65 years of river glory: Santa Fe-Coronda pushes the limits

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Radio Gol

·2 Februari 2026

65 years of river glory: Santa Fe-Coronda pushes the limits

The mystique of the river was reignited minutes before 9 a.m. with the start of the 48th edition of the Santa Fe-Coronda International Aquatic Marathon. This competition, celebrating its 65th anniversary since the inaugural feat in 1961 led by Carlos Larriera, reaffirms its status as a cultural and sporting heritage of the province.

A Technical Challenge and Route Changes

The 2026 edition presents a demanding course of 59,500 meters marked by mandatory modifications due to logistical and climatic factors:

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No passage through the Vado (Santo Tomé): Due to construction on the Carretero Bridge, swimmers will have to turn back at Cuatro Bocas and swim upstream against the Salado River current to the Santo Tomé beach, adding about 500 extra meters to the fatigue.
No Cortada de Sauce Viejo: The drop in river level prevented compliance with World Aquatics regulations (which require at least 1.40 meters of depth), forcing the avoidance of this traditional section.

Despite these changes, the organization — led by former winner Fernando Fleitas — highlights that the river level is higher than last year, although the low water temperature will be a determining factor for the athletes' endurance.

Protagonists in the Water

This time, 18 competitors (both male and female) represent eight nations: Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, France, and Italy.
In the early stages of the race, Ecuadorian Mateo Ramos Castro has taken the lead, closely followed by local favorite Martín Carrizo, who keeps the hopes of the people of Santa Fe alive to see a compatriot at the top of the podium.

The Argentine Delegation

Among the 18 brave participants seeking to connect the capital with the Coronda waterfront, the locals stand out:

Women: Mayte Puca and Mariel Loyato.
Men: Aquiles Balaudo, Martín Carrizo Yunces, Tomás Rodríguez, Santiago Boviez, and Lucas Salinas.

The story that began on January 22, 1961, at the Mosconi bar continues to write chapters of passion, uniting communities along the Paraná in a day that promises to be unforgettable.

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