Sunday, November 5th, 2023.- A true water skiing star shone on Laguna Los Morros: Regina Jacques won three gold medals in jump, overall, and slalom at Santiago 2023, adding to her legendary status, which now boasts 17 medals, thirteen of which are gold, across five Pan American Games.

Jacques, the holder of 10 water skiing world records, was one of the standout figures of Santiago 2023 and the athlete who contributed the most individual medals to her country, the United States.

At Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, the American won three out of the four competitions in which she participated, falling short only in the figures event (where she finished seventh) as it is not her specialty. In the jump event, she engaged in a tight battle with Chilean skier Agustina Varas, a contest that had to be decided by video arbitration.

Regina Jacques, 39 years old, marked her 20th year of participation at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. In Santo Domingo 2003, she garnered two medals (gold in jump and slalom); in Rio 2007, she claimed three more (gold in jump, silver in slalom, and bronze in tricks); in Guadalajara 2011, she added three golds (jump, overall, and slalom); and in Toronto 2015, she earned three medals (gold in jump, silver in slalom, and silver in overall). In the previous Lima 2019 games, she once again celebrated three golds (jump, overall, and slalom), while this year in Chile, she repeated the feat with three titles (jump, overall, and slalom).

Written by Marcelo López; translated by Felipe Vergara / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Juan Carlos Romo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport