The Leonas are a regional female hockey institution. They have a large number of awards and have become the most acknowledged team in the continent and this has allowed them to keep a second place in the World Ranking, just below the Netherlands. The argentinian players will start 2023 aiming high.

Agustina Albertario, striker for the team and currently playing for the German club Dusseldorf HC, just celebrated her 30th birthday and had a talk with Santiago 2023 about the objectives of the field hockey Argentinian team, also known as “Albiceleste”, and her own personal and professional goals, in a year where the challenge will be to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, whether it be through the Pro League or the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Agustina is holding Fiu, the official mascot of the Pan American games (picture: Santiago 2023).

- How was your birthday celebration?
- I had a wonderful celebration. I was in Miami with my boyfriend, so I’m very happy. I used to feel a little down over having my birthday on January 1st, the typical trauma of not being able to celebrate it, but after so many years, to celebrate it fills me with joy. 

- How could you summarize your 2022?
- It was a great year. We were champions of the Pro-League, second place in the world championship, champions of the Copa América. Obviously we weren’t able to finish on a high note with the world championship, but I’m very happy. It was a hard year that started on January 6th and finished on December 20th. It was hard mentally and physically but we don’t want to tone it down, we want it all and then some more. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A PART OF THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES

For Agustina, Santiago 2023 will mark her third participation in the Americas multi-sport festival with the Argentinian team. In her last participation, she obtained the gold medal with the team, so defending the title in this tournament is the main objective for the female hockey Albiceleste team. 

- What does 2023 bring for the Leonas?
- Maybe there aren’t many important events such as the World Championship, but for us the Pan American Games are important because they are a qualifier for the Olympic Games. Obviously we want to come here and put our country at the highest place. If we can qualify before, through the Pro League that this year is giving quotas for the Olympic games, it would be great, but still we want to arrive to Santiago 2023 with the objective to win. This year our minds are set on the Pro League and the Pan American Games.

- This is your third Olympic cycle as a national team player. How do you feel participating once more in these competitions?¿
- It is always a pleasure to participate in the Pan American Games. I’ve participated in three World Championships, three Pan American Games and, with God willing, these could be my third Olympic Games. At this point you play with another mindset, since you can’t really explain how it feels to play the Olympic finals. You enjoy it more, and leave anxiety aside.

- Do you consider that participating in the Pan American Games once more is an example of consistency in your career?
- It is very hard to keep up and participate in an Olympic process. I think that experience plays a part as well. I don’t really know, but I think that when choosing a player, usually experience weighs in. I’m not going to say I can’t run, but experience is always a plus. To bring a player that is participating in their third Olympic Games may be better than taking one that is debuting.

Albertario has the chance to participate in her third Olympic Games (picture: Santiago 2023).

THE RIVALS OF THE LEONAS ON THE ROAD TO PARIS 2024

The striker for the Düsseldorf EG from the German Bundesliga stated throughout the conversation that to fulfill the objectives the Argentinian National Team has, they must overcome their greatest rival at the international level.

- How is the team preparing for 2023?
- We have to prepare to beat a single team, which is the Netherlands. They always take our joy away. Our training must be based on them, since if you can beat the Netherlands, who are first on the ranking, then you should be able to beat everyone. 

- How was your recent training with them?
- We played recently and we were left with a bad taste, since we pressed on and had them cornered, but in the last two quarters we lost the concentration and they scored two goals, one in a penalty and the other with a good play. There is a reason why they are in first place and we are in second place, because they are a team you have to face fully concentrated on the entire match.

THE GROWTH OF THE COMPETITION AT THE LATIN AMERICAN LEVEL

The Leonas have dominated field hockey in the continent practically with no rivals, winning seven gold medals, and two silver in nine Pan American competitions. However, the level of the teams has been increasing due to the growth of teams such as Uruguay or Chile. As it happens, the Diablas stole the chance to defend the gold in the Asunción 2022 South American games, with a historical win for the Chilean team.

- How do you see the level of the competition in Santiago 2023?
- Chile and Uruguay have grown a lot and this is very good for us too, since before we came to play a little relaxed, because - and this is not to take merit away from anyone - there was a large gap between Argentina and the rest of the teams. But today I feel that it doesn’t exist anymore. You can come to play and Chile or Uruguay can beat you. There are still some details here and there, and this is what helps you securing the win against these teams.

- What about Chile? Has the rivalry grown lately?
- I don’t know if we will get to the finals in the Pan American games, and if we do, I don’t know if we will face Chile. I would love to face them, in a rematch for the South American Games, since I saw it from the spectator’s position and I feel there is a thorn there. Chile has grown a lot and I’m quite pleased with that, I hope they can continue to achieve great things. Obviously I’m not going to say that I hope they qualify for the Olympic Games, because that is also our goal (laughter), but it is a great thing that our neighboring countries are growing constantly.

- With your experience, which do you think is the reason for the growth of these two countries in particular?
- I have no idea of what they are doing, but I think it starts with each player, with their mindset. ‘Cachito’ - Sergio Vigil, the coach for the Diablas-, must have changed the mindset of a lot of them, reminding them to take care during their vacations so they can get to the preseason in top shape. That helps a lot. If each one is working on perfecting themselves, when they gather in the team, the level is increased. And obviously, I don’t know if Chile has started to travel more, having more international matches, since that also helps a lot.

Agustina appreciated the better level of female hockey in Latin America (picture: Santiago 2023).

PASSION AND PRIDE REPRESENTING HER COUNTRY

- Argentina is characterized by the passion they have for sports competitions. We were able to see it recently with the Football World Cup, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. It happens in hockey, basketball, and tennis. What is the reason behind this passion?
- I’m not sure if it is the passion for sports, but I feel we are a country that has suffered a lot, we have many obstacles daily and we are used to having a bad time. The average Argentinian is known for overcoming hardships in situation where everything is wrong, in getting the best where others are not able to. As people, I think we are the only ones that push through, with heart, overcoming any obstacle placed in front of us, because that is the day-to-day in the country. 

- Is this something you use as an advantage when playing?
- Always. Our pep-talks are usually around the fact that “if they run, we have to run three times as fast”. If they beat us, may it be because we got shot on the knee, but never because of low spirits.

- And what does it mean for you to be a part of the Leonas?
- It is a huge privilege. I am proud and we have to work on a daily basis to be here. We are a country where most women practice hockey and to be among the best 18 is something unexplainable. We have an amazing group and this is important when playing a tournament, because if you have the tools, but with a group that is not right, the results will not be good.

- How do you expect the mood will be for the Pan American Games?
- It is going to be an amazing mood. Not even mentioning when, in any sport, Chile faces Argentina, with that spice between them which is always good. I feel that many Argentinians will travel, a lot of people that may not have been able to travel to Tokyo or Europe. A lot of spectators will come.

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