Lucas Garcés secured the seventh medal for San Juan at the ODESUR Santa Fe 2026 Games, capturing a silver medal in the men’s compound archery team event alongside teammates Iván Nikolajuk and Nelson Salinas after a narrow 231–228 defeat against Colombia in the final.
Garcés delivered an impressive individual performance within the national lineup, landing eight shots with four hitting the 10-point ring to secure a personal average of 9.5 points per arrow.
Surpassing the Asunción 2022 Medal Count
With Garcés’s podium appearance, the province has officially surpassed its total medal output from the previous South American Games held in Asunción in 2022, where local athletes captured six preseas.
The province’s expanding medal haul in Santa Fe reflects a dominant showing across multiple disciplines. The campaign opened with stellar performances in cycling: Mateo Kalejman claimed gold in the men’s individual time trial, while Delfina Dibella earned bronze in the women’s equivalent. BMX star Gonzalo “Chalo” Molina added a silver medal following a razor-thin finish in BMX Racing.
Track cycling further bolstered the regional count. Rubén Ramos Meglioli captured bronze in the team pursuit before teaming up with Marcos Méndez to secure gold in the men’s Madison. In the women’s Madison, Maribel Aguirre partnered with Abril Garzón to claim a bronze medal behind pairings from Chile and Uruguay.
What Lies Ahead in Santa Fe
The provincial delegation’s count may climb even higher before the multi-sport games conclude. Lucas Garcés is set to continue his campaign in the individual compound archery bracket, offering another opportunity for an individual podium finish.
At the same time, San Juan athletes in other sports are advancing deep into their respective tournaments. Volleyball players Samuel Guidi Correa and Benjamín Flores have advanced to the indoor volleyball semifinals with the Argentine National Team, keeping regional hopes alive for further medal contributions in Santa Fe.
Worth a look
