Basaldella, SUP gold: “Province backing gives athletes what we need” | OneFootball

The Rosario native said it this Thursday morning while speaking to the media alongside teammates from the discipline, who added eight medals to the national delegation. They highlighted the organization and the support from the crowd. Juliette Duhaime and Basaldella won two golds each; Lucía Clembosky and Alma Coletta earned silver medals; and Ignacio Arias took home two bronzes.

At Setúbal Lagoon in the city of Santa Fe, the Argentine delegation was the standout performer in the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) events, one of the new additions to the sports program of the 13th South American Games 2026.

Juliette Duhaime won both women’s events, and Santino Basaldella matched that haul in the men’s division. Lucía Clembosky claimed the silver medal in the women’s sprint, and Alma Coletta did the same in the technical race. Ignacio Arias rounded out the podium with two third-place finishes: in the men’s sprint and technical race.

“What was reaped today has been planted and worked on for a long time,” were the first words of Rosario native Basaldella as he appeared with his teammates at a press gathering this Thursday at the CARD complex in the provincial capital.

“We’re here at the CARD, and this is crazy, we can’t believe it; I’m very grateful to the Province for these Games, for the legacy they leave, which goes even further for the new generations. This is the kind of support we athletes need in terms of infrastructure so we can have our own space, and this is unique,” he said.

The athlete also expressed his joy at having qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima: “From the moment I finished the last Pan American Games three years ago, I told myself I was going to fight to be in that place again, and I’m still on that path, still fighting.”

The satisfaction of stepping onto the podium

Duhaime, winner of two gold medals, (American, but living in Paraná), was emotional about the achievement, saying that “it’s very important to me; I give all the glory to God and my family, who always support me, and to all of Argentina, which always cheers us on; I’m happy.”

The athlete also made a special point of highlighting the care at the South American Village and the encouragement from the crowd. “I heard so many Argentines, and I heard my brother, and this was the first time he was able to come see me. It’s super special because I always have to compete abroad, in international venues and far from home.”

Coletta, from Mar del Plata, for her part said that “it’s one more little push for us, we’re very excited, and I was lucky that my father could be with me, that he came to see me.” Clembosky, meanwhile, recalled “the process each person has to go through to reach this achievement, which is much more than just one race; it’s the day-to-day process of training, and that’s reflected in the results.”

Finally, Ignacio Arias highlighted the unity of the group and the emotion experienced during the races. “I would come out of the water and go back in with a different motivation, and you feel that and your chest fills up; I still haven’t fully processed everything I experienced, and what I take away most is everything we enjoyed,” he concluded.

A growing sport

SUP is practiced standing on a board propelled with a paddle, and it added a fresh image to the Games schedule. The events brought together specialists from across the continent and produced a decisive performance for Argentina.

Argentina’s performance went beyond the medal table. The victories achieved in Santa Fe secured the delegation’s qualification for the next Pan American Games, a goal that enhances the value of such a commanding showing against regional rivals.

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