The elite of speed skating at the south american games

ODYTA Summary

Colombia's speed skating team for the South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, will compete from September 14 to 16 in five scheduled events. The eight-member squad is coached by Elías del Valle and Iván Vargas and includes four gold medalists from the recent Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo: Gabriela Isabel Rueda, Kollin Andrea Castro, Juan Jacobo Mantilla, and Jhon Edwar Tascón. They are joined by Yicel Camila Giraldo, Sara Muñoz, Santiago Vásquez, and Kevin Lenis. Alberto Herrera Ayala, president of the Colombian Skating Federation, said the eight skaters qualified for the national team two weeks ago and have since continued preparation. He noted that six members have Olympic-cycle experience, with 43 gold medals and 53 world titles among them. Two athletes are debutants at these Games: Kevin Lenis, also a world champion, and Sara Muñoz, who will represent the country at a world championship for the second time. Herrera described the mix of experience and youth as a guarantee for expected results. Competitions will take place at the Roberto Tagliabué skating rink in Rosario's Parque Independencia, with ten events: five for women and five for men, over distances of 200 meters, 500 meters plus distance, 1,000 meters, 5,000 meters points, and 10,000 meters elimination. Beyond medals, the event offers four spots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima—two in speed events and two in distance events, one per gender. Herrera called this an additional incentive to seek the best results.