Santa Cruz concluded its campaign at the 2026 National Youth Evita Games in Mar del Plata with a total of 37 medals, including 15 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze.
The provincial delegation, consisting of 350 athletes, coaches, and coordinators, returned home this week following the tournament, which ran from November 2 to November 7.
The athletes qualified for the national stage after competing in the “Santa Cruz Puede” provincial games. Throughout the week in Mar del Plata, the participants engaged in both conventional and adaptive sports, balancing their competitive schedules with social and training activities alongside peers from across Argentina.
Julián Marini secured the top spot for the province in the E-Sports category. Marini claimed the gold medal and finished the tournament as the undefeated national champion in the Sport FC 26 virtual competition.
Other podium finishes included success in individual and team disciplines. Luciana Herrera Huaiquil of Río Gallegos earned a silver medal in traditional individual archery. In bádminton, Isabel Avaca, also from Río Gallegos, took silver in the women’s singles event. The duo of Yesica Peralta and Darío Cantero finished sixth in mixed doubles, while Efraín Martínez placed ninth in the men’s singles competition.
The rhythmic gymnastics team contributed three medals to the provincial total. Martina Figueroa and Lucía Castañeda achieved a national runner-up finish in the ball duo event. The team also secured two bronze medals in the individual hands-free and hoop categories.
In taekwondo, Ludmila Catalán and Nicolás Cuadra both returned with silver medals, while Anush Páez added a bronze. Meanwhile, in boccia, Olivier Lara Allende represented the province by securing a national silver medal in the BC1 category.
El equipo de futsal masculino de Argentinos del Sur de El Calafate fue uno de los protagonistas destacados de la provincia al alcanzar la final nacional en los Juegos Nacionales Juveniles Evita 2026. The squad reached the national final, ultimately finishing as runners-up after a competitive match against the delegation from CABA.
Beyond the podium, the delegation’s participation spanned numerous disciplines, including judo, wrestling, karate, boxing, padel, and table tennis. Athletes in weightlifting also reached the A and B finals, with several participants improving their personal records during the competition.
The provincial delegation competed in several adaptive sports categories. Santa Cruz athletes reached the podium in adaptive athletics, securing gold, silver, and bronze medals across speed, long jump, and javelin events. The swimming team also recorded top-three finishes in both the 25-meter freestyle and 25-meter backstroke events.
The Government of Santa Cruz, through the Secretariat of State for Sport and Recreation, managed the logistical support for the group. This included the coordination of transportation, housing, and technical assistance for the 350-member delegation throughout their stay in Mar del Plata.
