Fernando Contreras wins historic MTB gold at 2026 South American Games | OneFootball

Fernando Contreras won the gold medal in Mountain Bike this Monday at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games. It is the fourth gold medal for the Argentine delegation so far in the competition and the first in its history in this discipline.

The event took place in Rafaela, and the Mendoza native completed it in a time of 1h24m27s, which allowed him to claim victory. The podium was rounded out by Brazilians Alex Malacarne (+0m10s) and Ulan Bastos (+1m33s).

After crossing the finish line, the Argentine collapsed to the ground and broke down in tears, a clear sign of relief after the effort he had made and the achievement he had earned. He hugged other members of the delegation, and his rivals also came over to congratulate him.

“This victory is for someone I lost this year, for my old man. And for my whole family, who have supported me through a very difficult year. A few months ago I was on the verge of getting off the bike and, thanks to the professionals, who helped me tremendously, today I can be here,” he said in an interview with TyC Sports after his triumph.

The performance of the 29-year-old athlete not only represents an extraordinary personal achievement for him, but also for Argentine cycling, as it is the first medal Argentina has ever won in this discipline in the history of the South American Games.

Contreras’s Mountain Bike gold is Argentina’s first gold medal of Monday’s events. So far, the albiceleste delegation has won twelve medals in this edition: four gold, one silver, and seven bronze.

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