Tuesday, October 24, 2023.- Rowing continues to bring smiles to Chile at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. This time, the Laguna Grande in San Pedro de La Paz was the stage for the host country's first gold in this sport, in a fantastic performance by Antonia Liewald and Isidora Niemeyer in the lightweight female double sculls.

The national duo, who recently became under-23 world runners-up at the Budapest World Championship, executed a well-thought-out plan to overtake the United States in the final 500 meters, despite the Americans leading the first half of the competition.

Paraguayans Adriana Sanabria and Rocío Bordón took an early lead in the race, but Mary Wilson and Elisabeth Martin surged ahead on the inside to claim the top spot, until the Chilean rowers went for the ultimate victory.

Neck and neck, Liewald and Niemeyer outpaced the Americans in the final sprint to secure Chile's third gold medal at the Pan American Games and the first in their individual careers, setting a positive precedent for a day filled with medals in the Biobío region.

Representing Team Chile, they clocked a time of 7:11:70 and narrowly beat the North American pair, consisting of Elizabeth Martin and Mary Wilson, who finished with a time of 7:14:54.

The bronze medal was claimed by Argentina's rowers, Evelyn Silvestro and Sonia Baluzzo, who recorded a time of 7:15:27.

Written by Nicolás Olea; translated by Vicente Valdivia / Photosport
Photo: Marco Vazquez / San pedro de la paz 2023 via Photosport