From Basketball Courts to the Archery Range
The turning point in Silva’s life occurred in 2019 during a basketball match, when he was diagnosed with a heart condition. Up to that point, he had competed in taekwondo, cycling, and basketball. Medical restrictions barred him from high-exertion aerobic sports, leaving him with recommendations for golf, horseback riding, or archery.
“They recommended golf, horseback riding and gave me a third option which was archery. It was a few blocks from my house.”
Elite Training and National Representation
Silva trains between four and six times a week, dedicating two to three hours daily to his sessions. After starting at the Club Unión de Arqueros de Plottier, he joined Arqueros del Comahue two years ago, where he trains under Damián Otero, who also serves as an instructor for the Argentina national team. Silva is part of the national selection’s elite group, a squad of six athletes per category who participate in periodic technical evaluations alongside competitors from La Rioja, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Pampa, and Misiones.
He recently secured a bronze medal in mixed teams at a South American archery tournament and World Ranking Event, competing against senior division athletes with over a decade of experience.
Mental Discipline and Future Goals
Alongside his athletic career, Silva pursues a degree in electronic engineering, noting the demanding schedule leaves little room for other activities. He views the mental discipline required in archery as a parallel to navigating daily life. “The target—as the white spot where the arrows are shot is called—reflects a person’s mental state,” Silva noted. “If you see that there is a very large dispersion, it is because that person is upset.”
With his sights set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Silva continues to compete on the national circuit, supported by institutional projects such as the Vista contest and his family, who have assisted with the financial demands of high-performance competition.
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