Nelson Salinas secured a silver medal for Argentina in the men’s compound team archery event at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, according to regional reports. Competing alongside teammates Lucas Garcés and Iván Nikolajuk, the archers advanced to the gold medal final before falling to Colombia in a closely contested match.
A Three-Point Margin in Santa Fe
According to coverage from regional outlets, the Argentine men’s compound team pushed Colombia to the limit in the discipline’s title match. The Colombian squad totaled 231 points to secure the gold medal, while Argentina finished just three points behind with a score of 228 to claim the silver.
The narrow defeat highlighted the competitive balance between the two South American powerhouses throughout the tournament. Leading up to the final showdown, Salinas noted that athletes faced difficult environmental factors on the course, including strong winds that required constant tactical adjustments during the preliminary rounds.
Bringing Continental Recognition to Entre Ríos
For Salinas, a native of Paraná, the podium finish marks a significant milestone in his sporting career. Regional sports publications highlighted that his performance carries the flag of Entre Ríos onto a major international stage, reflecting years of preparation within the national setup.
Following the medal ceremony, Salinas recorded a video message directed back home to Paraná. “A big thank you to the people of Paraná, especially my family who supports me,” Salinas expressed in comments reported by regional media. “Thank you for being here.”
He added that reaching the medal round required navigating a challenging bracket. “We are very happy because we achieved the silver, which was very complicated to reach this instance, and this achievement makes us happy,” Salinas stated.
Strong Team Showing for Argentina
The men’s compound silver added to a productive day for the Argentine archery delegation in Santa Fe. Earlier in the competition schedule, the Argentine women’s archery team also secured a silver medal in their respective team event, capping off a strong collective performance for the country across the team disciplines.
As the South American Games continue, athletes across various disciplines turn their attention to upcoming individual brackets and scheduled training sessions before their return to domestic competition circuits.
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