Tomás Mondino, Argentine champion dreaming of a Santa Fe 2026 medal | OneFootball

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

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 at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games with the hope of fighting for a medal and representing the country in front of his home crowd.

Mondino arrives at the competition after being crowned Argentina’s U23 champion in the 100 meters and will be one of the Argentine 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 compete 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, the fact that they’re being held 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 remodeled CARD, the new track, and the new venue, the public will come out so the stands can be filled once again,” he said.

A new track for the future of athletics

Beyond the competition itself, Mondino is focused on what will remain after the Games. For the sprinter, the new infrastructure at the CARD 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 be left behind to help develop athletics,” he said.

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 time- and mark-based sports, having good conditions, a good climate, and a high level of competition is key to continuing to grow,” he explained.

A challenge in front of his home crowd

With the competition drawing ever closer, the sporting goal is clear: 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.

“We want people to 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 them 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 dedicate themselves to. “Living that experience will make many people decide to start doing sports, going for a run, going to a gym, and doing activities that ultimately save lives,” he said.

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