Four athletes from Arica and Parinacota who secured medals and a historic fourth-place finish for Chile at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026 in Argentina were honored during a breakfast hosted by regional authorities.
Medal Tally and Regional Contributions at Santa Fe 2026
The regional delegation’s achievements directly contributed to Team Chile’s fourth-place finish in the overall medal table of the South American Games. Chile accumulated 175 total medals, consisting of 49 gold, 58 silver, and 68 bronze. Arica and Parinacota contributed a silver medal in bodyboard, bronze medals in archery, and a landmark fourth-place finish in women’s waterpolo. The performance matched a broader continental showcase where host Argentina secured 115 total medals—34 gold, 32 silver, and 49 bronze—to place second in the overall standings behind Brazil, which captured 117 medals.
Archery and Bodyboard Stars Lead the Podium Push
Among the recognized competitors, 23-year-old archer Tomás Peña secured a bronze medal in the men's recurve team event.
In bodyboard, 24-year-old Moisés Silva claimed the individual silver medal. Silva trained from childhood at the Chinchorro bodyboard school and reached number two in the global rankings during 2023. Rounding out the delegation’s medal-contributing disciplines, 16-year-old Rubí Rojas competed with the Chilean women’s waterpolo team that reached the semifinals. The squad’s fourth-place finish marked the first time the national women’s waterpolo program advanced to a South American Games semifinal, establishing a historic milestone for the sport in the country.
Government Officials Urge More Support for Emerging Talent
During the official breakfast, regional governor Diego Paco emphasized the necessity of expanding regional public policies to support emerging talent. Regional presidential delegate Cristian Sayes pointed to the role of sports in social mobility and urged closer coordination between government entities and private sponsors to strengthen support networks for developing athletes.
