Tucumán's Lisandro Fontana wins gold at the South American Youth Games | OneFootball

The Tucumán native Lisandro Fontana Lardies once again confirmed that his growth shows no signs of slowing down. At the South American Youth Games, held in Panama, the young karateka claimed the gold medal after defeating Colombia’s Henry Riveros 3-1 in the final of the Kumite +68 kg category.

At just 17 years old, Fontana already moves naturally on the international stage. His performance in Panama not only put him at the top of the podium, but also strengthened his status as one of the leading hopes of Argentine youth karate.

The road to the title was no coincidence. Fontana arrived at the competition with results that placed him among the favorites: a bronze medal at the 2024 Youth World Championships in Venice, Pan-American runner-up in Asunción 2025, and South American champion in Recife, Brazil. A path that shows consistency and progress.

In the final, the Tucumán fighter showed control, tactical intelligence, and efficiency to secure a 3-1 victory over Riveros. He managed the timing of the bout well and struck at just the right moments to complete a solid performance.

Beyond the result, his current form invites bigger expectations. In August, he will have another opportunity at the Pan-American Championships, where he will seek redemption after winning the silver medal. However, it will not be just another challenge: he will move up a category, going from Cadet to Junior, which means facing rivals with greater physical and competitive demands.

In October, the focus will be on the World Championships in Poland, one of the year’s major goals. There, he will try to return to the podium and move closer to his biggest dream. “There are several dreams, but if I have to choose one, I want to be world champion,” he said in an interview with LA GACETA at the beginning of the year.

In addition, the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for November, are also on the horizon, although his participation has not yet been confirmed. “They tell us those things at the last minute; maybe so we don’t relax,” he explained.

The gold in Panama represents much more than a title. It is confirmation of the level he has been showing and a sign of what he can achieve in the short term.

At 17, Lisandro Fontana is not only winning. He is beginning to build something bigger: a career that is already aiming high.

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