Tomás Mondino, Argentina's champion eyeing a medal at Santa Fe 2026 | OneFootball

The sprinter from Rafaela comes off being crowned Argentine U23 champion and is getting ready to compete before his home crowd on the renovated track at Santa Fe’s CARD. “Anything that creates infrastructure will create development for athletics in the future,” he emphasized.

At 21 years old, and currently one of the leading figures in Argentine sprinting, Tomás Mondino is preparing for one of the most special challenges of his career. The athlete born in Rafaela will compete in the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games with the hope of fighting for a medal and representing the country before his home crowd.

Mondino arrives at the competition after being crowned Argentine U23 champion in the 100 meters and will be one of Argentina’s representatives in the sprint events to be held on the renovated track at the High Performance Sports Center (CARD) in Santa Fe.

The Games will take place from September 12 to 26 in Santa Fe, Rosario, and Rafaela, with the participation of more than 4,000 athletes from 15 countries, competing in 43 sports and 60 disciplines.

The excitement of competing at home

For Mondino, the chance to take part in a tournament of this magnitude in Santa Fe has special meaning. He already had the experience of competing in front of a crowd at the Rosario 2022 South American Youth Games, where he won gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters.

“Having the South American Games in Argentina is a huge achievement for our country and for all its athletes. Personally, having them in Santa Fe, which is my province, feels like an even greater achievement,” he said.

Now he hopes to feel that support again in the provincial capital, this time in a renovated venue. “I hope that this time in Santa Fe, with the newly remodeled CARD, the new track, and the new venue, the public will come out and fill the stands once again,” he said.

A new track for the future of athletics

Beyond the competition, Mondino is focused on what will remain after the Games. For the sprinter, the new CARD infrastructure represents a real opportunity to strengthen the development of Argentine athletics.

“A very important legacy will remain. Santa Fe hasn’t hosted a competition like this since the early 1980s, and major infrastructure will remain to help develop athletics,” he emphasized.

Along those lines, he praised the work carried out at the different venues and especially the addition of equipment and technology for high performance.

“Anything that creates infrastructure will create development for athletics in the future. Having more athletes means having a higher level, and at the same time, having more people training helps keep fewer people out on the streets wandering around and more people playing sports,” he reflected.

For the sprinter, having a track of this kind can also create better conditions for those looking to improve their times.

“State-of-the-art infrastructure is essential for setting new marks. Especially for us, since we compete in timed and performance-based sports, having good conditions, a good climate, and a strong competitive level is key to continuing to grow,” he explained.

A challenge in front of his home crowd

With the competition drawing ever closer, the sporting objective is clear: to represent Argentina in the best possible way and fight for a place on the podium. But for Mondino, the experience will also have a value that goes beyond the result.

“Come watch us and support us, because for us it’s a great pleasure to be in our city and in our country. We want to represent you in the best possible way, and seeing those stands full also fills us with pride and motivation,” he said.

The athlete from Rafaela also believes the impact of the Games can reach those who still haven’t found a sport to devote themselves to. “Living through that experience will lead many to decide to start doing sports, to go running, to go to a gym, and to do activities that ultimately save lives,” he said.

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