The Región de Los Lagos secured a historic first-place finish in the overall standings and the medal table at the 33rd edition of the Juegos Binacionales de la Araucanía, held in the Región de Los Ríos. Driven by dominant performances in swimming and athletics, the delegation amassed 73 total medals in a multi-sport tournament that brings together youth athletes from southern Chile and Argentine Patagonia.

Medal Breakdown Across Disciplines

Los Lagos finished the binational competition with 30 gold, 25 silver, and 18 bronze medals. Swimming proved to be the primary engine for the regional delegation, contributing 35 medals to the total count. Athletics followed closely with 31 medals, while cycling added 3, judo contributed 2, and basketball added 2. Table tennis, included as a participatory guest sport ahead of becoming officially point-scoring in 2027, added another haul of medals for the delegation, including 4 golds, 2 silvers, and 2 bronzes.

Swimming star Isidora Loyola led the individual gold-medal charge with victories in the 400-meter individual medley, 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter breaststroke, and 200-meter freestyle. Amanda Rodríguez added gold in the 50-meter butterfly, while Daniel De Angelis claimed golds in the 50-meter butterfly and 400-meter freestyle. Relay teams also excelled, capturing top podium spots in the women’s 4×100 medley, men’s 4×100 medley, women’s 4×50 freestyle, men’s 4×50 medley, women’s 4×50 medley, and the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay. Additional gold medals came from Valentina Vilugrón in the 50-meter freestyle, Agustín Cerda in the 200-meter butterfly, Maira Olivari in the 50-meter breaststroke, Vicente Binder in the 50-meter breaststroke, Valentina Sepúlveda in the long jump, Cristóbal Keim in the 400-meter flat, Ilaria Sáez in the high jump, Martina Noriega in the 400-meter hurdles, Nicolás Seydewitz in the triple jump, Agustín Alvear in the 110-meter hurdles, Amalia Teuber in the javelin throw, and the men’s basketball team. Furthermore, the women’s and men’s 4×100 relay squads both set tournament records, anchored by athletes including Luciana Errikson, Pilar Rodríguez, Matías Kusch, Cristóbal Mendoza, and Nahum Díaz.

Regional Leaders Praise Historic Achievement

Regional sports authorities highlighted the significance of the achievement for Los Lagos. The competition itself draws participants from the Chilean regions of Biobío, Ñuble, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes, alongside the Argentine provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, La Pampa, and Tierra del Fuego.

Fernando Binder stated that the historic podium finish stands as a source of pride for the entire region. Binder noted that while local athletes have consistently delivered strong performances in past editions, claiming the top spot in the general table marks a first for Los Lagos. Binder added that the binational games not only reward athletic performance but also strengthen ties between Chile and Argentina.

Ernesto Villarroel celebrated the results from the Municipal Coliseum in Valdivia, pointing to both the women’s basketball silver medal and the men’s basketball victory over La Pampa province in a tight final. Villarroel commended the months of preparation carried out by the IND staff, alongside the dedication of the athletes, coaches, and supporting families across the host venues of Futrono, Panguipulli, Río Bueno, La Unión, and Lanco.

Competition Venues and Historical Context

The 33rd edition unfolded across multiple venues in the Región de Los Ríos, testing youth competitors across disciplines that included athletics, swimming, cycling, judo, football, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis. The tournament traces its history back to 1992, with interruptions in 2020 and 2021.