Big Argentinian delegation leaves for Sao Paulo 2017

With a strong delegation made up of over 100 athletes, Argentina are hoping to take another leap forward at Sao Paulo 2017 after finishing third in the medals table at the latest edition of the Youth Parapan American Games on home soil in Buenos Aires, in 2013.

Four years ago, Argentinian athletes claimed 133 medals overall, including 38 golds, 51 silvers and 44 bronzes. Buenos Aires 2013 athletics champion Hernan Urra even went on to seal silver in the men’s shot put F35 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

In Sao Paulo, Argentina are expected to have representatives in 11 sports. Some of their best athletes are wheelchair tennis player Antonella Pralong, table tennis player Elias Romero and powerlifter Rodrigo Villamarin.

Long tradition

Argentina is a country with a long tradition in the Paralympic Movement, having competed at every Paralympic Games since the first in Rome, Italy, in 1960. Their best performance ever was at Tel Aviv 1968, when they claimed 10 golds, 10 silvers and 10 bronzes.

At Rio 2016, Argentina put an end to a 20-year-old gold medal drought through sprinter Yanina Martinez, who made her international debut as an athlete at the second Youth Parapan American Games in Bogota, Colombia, in 2009.

Around 1,000 athletes, aged 12-20 years old, from 20 countries are expected to participate in Sao Paulo 2017, with 12 sports being contested: athletics, boccia, football 5, football 7, goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

Buenos Aires 2013 attracted more than 600 athletes from 16 countries, who competed across 10 sports. Brazil topped the medal table and 15 countries reached the podium at least once.

Barquisimeto, Venezuela, staged the inaugural edition in 2005, with athletes from 10 countries competing, whilst a total of 14 countries attended the event in Bogota, Colombia, in 2009.

For more information, visit Sao Paulo 2017’s website.