Sunday, November 5th, 2023.- No one wanted this day to come, but it's impossible to stop the passage of time. The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games have come to a close, fully living up to the fundamental premise of an event of this significance: to be a grand sporting celebration.

Chile had the mission to finally host the most significant multi-sport event on the continent, an event it had declined to organize on two occasions. However, the third time was the charm, and the country delivered the event with a precision that deserves recognition.

Team Chile took advantage of the home advantage, and the pressure didn't seem to affect the majority of the local athletes. The hosts achieved their best performance in history, earning a total of 79 medals.

The only blemish for the host country is that they couldn't match the 13 first-place finishes they achieved in Lima 2019; they fell one short, securing 12 gold medals.

The Chilean champions were: Francisca Crovetto (skeet shooting); Alfredo Abraham, Ignacio Abraham, Nahuel Reyes, and Marcelo Pool (rowing, coxless four); Magdalena Nanning, Victoria Hostetter, Milita Abraham, Antonia Abraham (rowing, coxless four); Antonia Liewald, Isidora Niemeyer (rowing, lightweight double sculls); Emile Ritter (water skiing jump); Santiago Ford (decathlon, athletics); Lucas Nervi (discus throw, athletics); Martina Weil (400 meters, athletics); Emanuelle Silva (200 meters sprint, speed skating); Enrique Villalón (-60 kilograms, karate); Rodrigo Rojas (+84 kilograms, karate); Valentina Toro (-55 kilograms, karate).

In summary, Chile secured 12 gold medals, 31 silver, and 36 bronze, earning the eighth place in the overall standings, the same position they held in Lima 2019.
 

Written by Carlos Silva Rojas; translated by Felipe Vergara / Photosport
Photo by Alejandro Pagni / Santiago 2023 / Photosport/ Santiago 2023 / Photosport