Esports at the South American Games: youth hit, Santa Fe 2026’s revelation | OneFootball

Esports are revolutionizing competition in the city of Rosario. Argentine medal winners Daniela Arias, Néctar Bruno Coleff, and Lautaro Zuviría shared their feelings after the discipline’s historic debut. “We feel proud to be paving the way,” they agreed.

Esports left an unprecedented image at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games: video game players officially representing their countries, competing under specific regulations, and adding medals to the overall standings. For the first time, esports are part of the event’s official program, and their results count toward the medal table, just like those of traditional disciplines. The L2 Arena in Rosario hosted the first finals of EA Sports FC and Assetto Corsa GT, two of the three titles that make up the esports lineup, alongside Valorant. Argentina has already won three medals: Daniela Arias took gold in EA Sports FC; Néctar Bruno Coleff won silver in Assetto Corsa GT; and Lautaro Zuviría earned bronze in EA Sports FC. This Wednesday, the athletes held a press conference at the Press Center of the Parque Independencia Fairgrounds in Rosario, where they shared their impressions after a debut that broadens the reach of the Games to new audiences.

Preparation and competitive demands

Daniela Arias expressed her satisfaction with the result, achieved at a stage in her life when she had to reorganize her training routines after becoming a mother. “Before, I could dedicate much more time to training and getting mentally prepared. Now I had to make the most of the limited time I had, and I feel I was able to perform well, at the right level,” she said. For his part, Coleff highlighted the human bond that formed within the Argentine delegation. “They’re fantastic people. I want to tell them that I love them all and that they have earned my total respect and admiration. The biggest challenge is sitting there and knowing that you are representing your country: that’s what we love,” he said. The virtual driver also emphasized the collective work behind the preparation: “All the guys were able to contribute, and that speaks to the dedication and professionalism we put into this sport. I’m very happy about that.” Zuviría agreed while stressing the process that made it possible to build the Argentine team: “The guys have been working really well. It was very hard for us, we went through a lot, but we managed to build a team.” He also valued the camaraderie among the members of the delegation during the days of competition.

Medals that open the way

The three representatives won Argentina’s first esports medals in the history of the South American Games. “It’s crazy. These are moments that will stay forever, and they’re precisely the ones that matter most,” Zuviría said. Coleff emphasized the connection with the younger generations. “It makes me very proud when I’m walking down the street and kids greet us with excitement and admiration. To me, that’s worth more than any medal, because it’s forever,” he said. “It’s really nice to be able to do our small part for those coming after us. It’s an enormous source of pride for us,” Arias added.

The coach’s perspective

Alejandro Dupuy, head of the Argentine delegation’s team, highlighted the significance of esports officially being part of the Games. “We had already taken part as an invited sport at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile and at the 2022 Odesur Games in Asunción. Now, for the first time, being here helping our country win medals and add to the medal table is an enormous pleasure,” he said. Dupuy explained that preparing competitors requires a structure similar to that of other high-performance disciplines. “The developers organize many competitions, and that is prepared for day by day. On an individual level, the teams have psychologists, nutritionists, and coaches. The preparation is very similar to that of a traditional sport: working on the mind is essential,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.