Santa Cruz returned from Mar del Plata with 37 medals after the conclusion of the Juegos Nacionales Juveniles Evita 2026, noticias.santacruz.gob.ar reported.
The provincial delegation secured 15 gold medals, 14 silver medals, and 8 bronze medals across multiple disciplines during the national youth competition. Athletes from various towns across the province participated in the Mar del Plata event following regional preparation processes.
Julián Marini claimed the gold medal and the undefeated national championship in E-Sports within the virtual Sport FC 26 category. Meanwhile, the men’s futsal team from Argentinos del Sur de El Calafate reached the national final and earned the tournament’s subchampionship after facing CABA.
Gymnastics contributed three medals to the provincial count, featuring a national All Around subchampionship and a silver medal in the Dúo Pelota category by Martina Figueroa and Lucía Castañeda. The delegation also secured two third-place finishes in Manos Libres and Aro.
Taekwondo competitors added three medals to the total, with silver medals going to Ludmila Catalán and Nicolás Cuadra, alongside a bronze medal won by Anush Páez. In badminton, Isabel Avaca earned a silver medal in Single Femenino, while Yesica Peralta and Darío Cantero finished sixth in Dobles Mixtos.
Archery yielded a silver medal through Luciana Herrera Huaiquil from Río Gallegos in the individual traditional category.
Athletes also competed in weightlifting, reaching Finals A and B to improve personal bests compared to provincial qualifiers. Other sports with provincial representation included judo, wrestling, karate, boxing, paddle tennis, and table tennis.
Additional teams competed in shooting, beach volleyball, beach handball, canoeing, 3×3 basketball, indoor volleyball, rugby, hockey, and artistic gymnastics.
The Santa Cruz Secretariat of State for Sport and Recreation supported the provincial delegation’s participation throughout the national tournament.
“Porque el valor de los Juegos Evita no se mide solamente en medallas: también se construye en cada entrenamiento, en cada competencia y en la posibilidad de seguir creciendo a través del deporte,” the Secretaría de Comunicación Pública y Medios/Subsecretaría de Producción y Contenidos stated.
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