More than 2,500 athletes across 13 delegations opened the 33rd edition of the Juegos de la Araucanía in the Los Ríos Region of Chile, where Río Negro and Neuquén immediately impacted the medal standings on Monday. Río Negro captured eight total medals on the opening day—three gold, one silver, and four bronze—while Neuquén secured seven preseas, featuring one gold, two silver, and four bronze.
Federico Bottos Dominates Swimming Openers in Valdivia
Federico Bottos anchored Río Negro’s dominant start in the pool by winning three individual gold medals. Bottos claimed first place in the 400-meter individual medley, the 200-meter backstroke, and the 100-meter freestyle. Teammate Matías Sariego added a bronze in the 100-meter freestyle.
The province also found success in relay events. Both the men’s and women’s 4×100-meter medley relay teams finished third. The women’s squad featured Magalí Giménez, Delfina Giraldes, Iara Torres Brevi, and Josefina Segatori Rossi. The men’s quartet consisted of Salvador Cantini, Felipe Avendaño, Matías Sariego, and Benjamín Lorente Travesani, as reported by barilocheopina.com.
Neuquén Secures Seven Medals Through Judo and Swimming
Neuquén opened its campaign with seven medals of its own. Judoka Enzo Suarez captured gold in the under-66 kilogram category, while teammate Thiago Espinoza earned silver in the under-60 kg division, and Thiago Lucero took bronze at under-81 kg.
In the pool, Violeta Di Renzo led the Neuquén delegation by winning three medals: silver in the 50-meter butterfly, alongside bronzes in the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley. Melina García contributed a third-place finish in the 50-meter butterfly as well.
Team Sports Deliver Lopsided Victories Across Disciplines
Río Negro’s football teams opened against Aysén with commanding margins. The men’s team won 4-0, and the women’s team routed their opponents 7-0. In basketball, Río Negro defeated Ñuble 120-38 in the men’s tournament and 87-28 in the women’s division.
Neuquén matched that intensity on the pitch. The women’s football team defeated Bío Bío 5-0, and the men’s squad edged Los Ríos 2-0. Neuquén’s women’s basketball side also secured a 58-39 victory against Magallanes, though the men’s team dropped a close 77-71 decision to Los Lagos.
Selección regional de Los Ríos cayó ante Neuquén en los Juegos Binacionales de La Araucanía 2026Más detalles: https://t.co/xaSGifub1B #ValdiviaCL pic.twitter.com/CfHK9zNQ48
Provincial Leadership Highlights Youth Camaraderie
Delegation officials pointed to the broader cultural and social value of the binational competition. Nahuel Astutti, Río Negro’s Secretary of State for Youth, Sport, and Culture, emphasized the logistical effort required to transport a 200-person delegation—including athletes, medical staff, and coaches—across the border.
Simón Miravete, Río Negro’s Secretary of Sport, praised the conduct of the young competitors during the opening events in Valdivia.
Río Negro Wins Medals in Judo and Athletics
Combat and track disciplines added further depth to Río Negro’s medal count. Cipolletti judoka Ian Figueroa earned bronze in the under-66 kg class, while Viedma’s Julián Villca took bronze in the under-73 kg category. In track and field, Aarón Figueroa secured silver in the men’s shot put.
Competition continues across eight conventional disciplines, including newly introduced events like table tennis alongside cycling, volleyball, and judo. Río Negro’s football squads return to action on Tuesday to face Tierra del Fuego, while the basketball and volleyball teams proceed through their respective group-stage fixtures.
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