He’s 16, shone in a brutal South American Games event, moved by family | OneFootball

In 1909, Pierre de Coubertin, creator of the Olympic Games, adapted an event that combined strength, skill, speed, and endurance to determine a “complete athlete”: that is how modern pentathlon was born. Over time, some of the events were changed, but its essence remains. At the 2026 South American Games, Argentina took the gold medal thanks to Catalina Serio.

The 16-year-old from Chubut won by a wide margin, as the youngest member of the team, confirming that she is not just a promise: she is a reality of Argentine sport. In an interview with TN from the Municipal Stadium, she explained what it is like to compete in five sports at the same time and became emotional when speaking about her family’s support, as they cheered her on from the stands.

In an interview with TN from the Municipal Stadium, she explained what it is like to compete in five sports at the same time and became emotional when speaking about her family’s support, as they cheered her on from the stands.

Catalina Serio, a complete athlete

Pentathlon is the first sport in the history of the Olympic Games. It was created to challenge “a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and abilities, thus creating a complete athlete.”

Since its debut in Stockholm 1912, equestrian jumping was replaced by obstacle racing, and it thus took the name “modern pentathlon.”

From Rosario, at the South American Games, Catalina Serio honored Pierre de Coubertin’s idea and won gold for Argentina.

“I’m very happy. I’m grateful to my team. I can’t explain what I’m feeling. It’s so, so much happiness and pride,” the young athlete from Chubut, who amazed those who came to watch the event, told TN.

The competition consists of épée fencing, obstacle racing, swimming, running, and laser shooting, where Cata showed all her ability by leading in each of them.

In the middle of her excitement, she remembered her teammates in a display of composure and mentality far beyond her years. “I’m grateful to my teammates, to my team, because they’re always there helping me stay focused, since the mental side is still hard for me. I learn a lot from my teammates, from Martu (Armanazqui), from Nere (Luna), from Fran (Serrano). I’m very happy.”

What it’s like to compete in five sports

Modern pentathlon was one of the biggest sensations in the first week of competition at the 2026 South American Games. Argentina had an impressive showing, with six athletes winning one gold medal and two silver medals across six events.

When talking about her feelings, Cata took it naturally: “I think it’s mainly a matter of discipline, because you get used to the routine. It’s train, train, train, then the next day train, train, train again, and you get used to it.”

Her family’s tireless support and a very affectionate nickname

While the media and fans surrounded Catalina Serio because of her impressive achievement, three people were leaning on the barriers, looking at her with pride, admiration, and a few tears of joy: her father Darío, her mother Claudia, and her brother Joaquín.

“I’m so happy they’re here,” Cata said emotionally, her voice breaking, in an interview with TN. “They’re always here: behind me, beside me,” she added when she saw them.

During the events, the tension was obvious and no one wanted to distract the athletes. Off on its own, only one encouraging phrase could be heard, giving Serio extra energy and pushing her to go even further.

“Come on, Cherry,” Darío shouted as a way of supporting his daughter Catalina. With emotions running high, they explained the meaning behind this sweet nickname.

“Pupi, that’s what I always called her when she was little,” Darío said with a smile that drew laughter from Claudia and Joaquín in the middle of the emotion. “And Cherry is because we have a dachshund named Tili, Tilingo, and I don’t know why I call him Cherry. So, well, they’re all Cherry to me. When I get emotional like this, I call them all Cherry to identify my little chicks,” he added.

“That’s it, we’re all Cherry, haha,” Claudia said, clearly moved by her daughter’s success. “I feel emotional, happy for her more than anything,” she said, describing her feelings.

Inspiration from her brother and family pride

The big question when watching the modern pentathlon event was how those athletes had decided to take part in a competition that requires success in five different sports at the same time and to do it at the highest level, with all the effort that implies.

The explanation in Catalina Serio’s case comes from her brother Joaquín, who was the first in the family to get involved in the sport.

“She started out playing around, because we watched him train; we waited through the five disciplines, which takes a lot of time, and she would do homework or draw little pictures. And the coaches started telling her, ‘Come on, get in the pool, since you’re already here’,” Claudia said with a proud smile as she remembered all the effort involved.

“They’re three years apart, so she always followed him around to be with him. She had a toy sword, she picked up the pistol, and that’s how she got motivated and started,” Darío added as he wiped away tears of joy.

“I feel happy not only because of this, but because I know how hard she works every single day. It’s not just today. I could already imagine this result for her, but because of the training she does every day, because of the effort she puts into every event, every rep, everything. She’s organizing her whole life around this sport,” Joaquín said, clearly proud of his sister.

For his part, Darío placed great value on the family’s unity and spoke about Joaquín’s fundamental role: “I always say that this is not only a result of her alone, but also of him, because he is the example, and then we are there supporting them. The two of them have done the hard work, and as he says, it’s day by day, it’s an enormous effort, it’s like playing Tetris with your whole day, and very happily.”

He also shared a family confidence and revealed that Joaquín had always been fully convinced of the success Catalina would achieve. “He always said, ever since she was little, that she was going to do well. He was the only one who saw it; of course, we did too, but more from the outside. But for it to actually happen, honestly, it’s incredible,” he said.

Joaquín explained why he had always thought Catalina was special for this sport: “I saw her abilities, I saw how eager she was, how hard she works. I suppose that, by watching me train, the swords must have caught her attention; she always liked swimming.”

As if this achievement and emotion were not enough, Catalina Serio later won the silver medal with the mixed modern pentathlon team, competing alongside Franco Serrano, adding another honor to her incredible performance. She is thus establishing herself not only as the present, but also as the bright future of Argentine sport.

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