Friendship drove gold: Las Carpinchas won K4 500m in canoeing | OneFootball

Lucía Dalto, Candelaria Sequeira, Paulina Barreiro, and Magdalena Barro celebrated the title in Sprint Canoeing. They highlighted the value of competing at home and shared the deep emotional bond that unites them in and out of the water.

The Argentine women’s Sprint Canoeing team, popularly known as Las Carpinchas, wrapped up an unforgettable day at Laguna Setúbal after winning the gold medal in the K4 500-meter event. After the podium ceremony, the national paddlers shared their feelings after achieving their goal, reflected on the demanding sports calendar, and praised the support of the Santa Fe crowd.

After standing on the top step of the podium, the members of the national boat reflected on what it meant to achieve this milestone at the final stage of the season.

“What makes me happiest, beyond the medal and the growth with the girls, is that this is the end of a very long year for us. This finish gives us a little push for what’s next, to keep training, improve, and represent our country in the best possible way,” said Lucía Dalto.

For her part, Magdalena Barro emphasized the team’s extensive preparation and the added value of competing at home in front of the Argentine crowd: “We prepared a lot because we had already had five previous competitions; this was the sixth, so we came in really eager. The special motivation was being at home; I think away from home it wouldn’t have been the same. I’m happy that Santa Fe took on this challenge and that we were able to overcome any technical difficulties to be here with our people.”

They also highlighted the atmosphere in Santa Fe throughout the Games: “You can constantly feel the spirit of the Games in the Village, in the streets, and in the overall atmosphere. It’s really beautiful to see so many children excited about sport; may this be a source of motivation and show all the effort we put in every single day,” Dalto added.

The first steps at the club

Looking back on their beginnings in canoeing, the paddlers recalled how the sport gradually went from being a childhood activity to a high-performance vocation.

Lucía Dalto started at the age of eight at Club Náutico de Remo thanks to her cousin, and later moved to Club Regatas La Plata: “It wasn’t a sudden decision; I grew up, started competing in provincial events, national championships, and trials, and that’s how I gradually got into high-performance sport.”

For her part, Candelaria Sequeira joined at the age of nine while accompanying her brother. “There were girls my age paddling on the water and, thank God, I started too, because today they are my best friends. The path to the national team came about very naturally.”

Paulina Barreiro said she started at 12 while accompanying her grandmother. “She wanted to start rowing, I started with her, and in the end I was the one who stayed. Today I realize it’s what I keep choosing and what I’ll always keep choosing.”

More than a team: “A dedication of love”

Beyond the results on the water, the group emphasized the strength of the friendship they have built after spending time together at training camps of up to three weeks a month throughout the year.

“Sometimes we’re more than friends, we’re sisters. Cande and I have been best friends since we were eight years old, and we brought Pauli into this family for her first South American Games with the senior team. We build together, and life with the girls is a dream,” Dalto said.

Visibly emotional, Candelaria Sequeira summed up the team’s feelings after winning the gold medal: “This bond with the girls is beautiful, wanting things to go as well as possible for us and being able to hug them with sincere love. This was a dedication of love.”

Finally, the athletes invited the public to follow the delegation’s daily life on social media: “You can find us on Instagram at @lascarpinchasarg, where we share our training sessions, competitions, and the day-to-day life of sprint canoeing.”

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