Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- The seventh day of competition at Santiago 2023 will be unforgettable for Argentine Para athletics, as they secured three new gold medals and set four Parapan American records on the track. 

Ezequiel Villa won the 200 meters in the T35 category, setting new Pan American and Parapan American records with a time of 24.66. In the same event, Hernán Barreto also broke the record with a time of 25.89 (both have different disabilities). 

In the T36 400 meters, the Argentine Alexis Chávez set a new record with a time of 54.36, while in the T36 200 meters, Araceli Rotela set a new Parapan American and Pan American record with a time of 30.28. 

Thanks to these new medals, Argentina is now in fifth place in the medal table with a total of 68 medals: 13 gold, 19 silver, and 36 bronze. 

By far, the best sport for the Brazilian delegation at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games is Para swimming, where the Brazilians reached the incredible milestone of 50 gold medals. Additionally, they have 22 silver and 20 bronze medals. 

Brazil also made headlines on Wednesday by reaching 50 gold medals in Para swimming at Santiago 2023. 

The powerful Brazilian team closed the day with three first places in the pool at the National Stadium, including records, as Gabriel Bandeira updated the Pan American record in the 200 meters individual medley SM14 (intellectual disability) with a time of 2:10.59. 

Subsequently, Brazilian Douglas Rocha celebrated in the 50 meters freestyle S13 (visual impairment) with a new Pan American record, clocking 25.56 seconds. His compatriot Thomaz Rocha followed (26.06), and third was Mexican Fernando Martínez (26.65). 

To conclude the day at the Aquatics Center, the Brazilian team in the 4x100 meters mixed 34-point relay secured victory with a time of 4:38.29. 

Brazil continues to lead the medal tally with 202 medals: 93 gold, 55 silver, and 54 bronze. The leaders also had another excellent day in Para athletics, where, like on Tuesday, they secured four gold medals, bringing their total to eight. 

Written by Marcelo López - Carlos Silva Rojas - Fernanda Pavez; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport 
Photo: Karin Pozo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport