Tension rises as competition at the Pan American Games 2023 enters its final stages

Going into the Medal series, Aruban Ethan Westera carries the advantage as he outperformed the fleet in the lead up. Scoring a 1, 4, 4 in today’s three races he has showed consistency all week with a fifth place in Race 5 his lowest position.

In the iQFOiL Women, Mariana Aguilar Chavez Peon MEX had the perfect day with three bullets. Securing her place in the top spot for the Medal series. Having already qualified the nation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the Hague, the pressure is off however the matter of securing gold still remains.She said, “I think you have to have a really good mentality to give it your all. It’s one race wins all, so you have to be really focused and connected with the wind.”

Tomorrow will see the Medal Race for the 49er fleet. The Uruguayan team of Hernan Ricardo Umpierre Odini and Fernando Diz Becerra had a sensational day taking three wins and in doing so, secured themselves the South American national qualification spot for the Games.

Odini commented, “Points were a bit tight at the start of the day, but we made it, so super happy. We have a fight with the USA guys for the first place, so we’ll keep pushing too.”

The Brazilian pair of Martine Soffiatti Grael and Kahena Kunze took the South American nation spot with scores of 3, 1, 3 making it impossible for Argentina to catch them for the spot. Posting six race wins in the qualifying series of races they have a two-point overall advantage to Canadians Alexandra Grace Ten Hove and Mariah Alice Jane Millen. Who are also tied with Americans Stephanie Roble and Margaret Shea.

Winning gold with a day to spare, Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco take the overall title in the Mixed Nacra 17 in style with three race wins today.

“Overall, a really good week for us, really positive takeaways and enjoying a lot this event in Chile that has been great. We were at the last Pan American Games where we took silver, so this is something we really wanted to achieve,” said Majdalani.

Sarah Newberry-Moore and David Liebenberg also secured the USA’s spot at the Paris 2024 Games over the Canadians Galen William Lyle Caldwell Richardson and Madeline Gillis.

After 10 races in the ILCA 6, Erika Rose Reineke takes the gold over North American rival Sarah Douglas before the Medal race.

“It has been amazing, most Olympic Games you’re battling until the end so that’s what we did up until today. She’s really pushing me and she’s wicked fast. You want to go out and try to win the Medal race always, so I’m actually really looking forward to that race,” commented Reineke.

Three-time veteran of the Pan Am Games Stefano Peschiera Loret De Mola PER has finally claimed gold at the event after a silver in 2019 in his home country Peru.

“I think keeping it consistent in all conditions was the key. I think it’s going to be exiting to sail the Medal race without that pressure of being able to lose the gold. It’s been quite a rollercoaster for me at the Pan Am Games. Winning a medal was my dream and now it’s a gold one so it’s exciting, couldn’t be more proud and thankful for my team.”

The Brazilian completes an almost perfect week with 14 out of 15 race wins before the Medal series on the 4 November. Having already qualified the nation Bruno Chaves Costa Lobo Ferreira is playing for gold while the 2 spots remain for North and South Americans nations to battle it out.

Daniela Moroz of the USA leads the Formula Kite Women into their Medal series. Qualifying the country and the USA she has her sights set on Pan American Games gold despite a tricky start to the day,

“I got a black flag on the first one because I had a weird situation at the start, so didn’t start off the best. But then I managed to get three bullets after that, so it was just so fun out there, fun conditions,” she said.

How to follow the event:

EVENT WEBSITE
Click here for further information on the Pan American Games Sailing Competition. 

LIVE TRACKING & RESULTS 

Click here for live tracking and here for official results. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

For Images from the event, click here. 

WATCH LIVE
Live streamed races and medal races on 1 November 2023 will be available here.