Chile’s next generation of rowers looking strong

Host nation Argentina was second overall and Brazil followed in third. The gold medal spread for these top three countries had Chile taking eight, Argentina six and Brazil finishing with three golds. But perhaps one of the best performances was by a Peruvian sculler. Renzo Leon Garcia of Peru was first in the under-23 men’s single sculls. His time of 7:01 showed his potential on the international rowing scene. Garcia, 21, also raced this year at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships where he finished just outside of the medals in fourth place in the lightweight men’s single sculls. Argentina’s Pablo Aguirre finished in second behind Garcia.

The win by Carlos Lopez Roberto of El Salvador in the junior men’s single sculls was quite a surprise. Roberto, who was ninth at the Pan American Games earlier this year, finished in a fast time of 6:59. This left Chile’s Nibaldo Yanez Ortiz nine seconds back in second. Ortiz raced at this year’s World Rowing Junior Championships where he finished 20th overall.

On the women’s side Natalia Sanchez Rojas of Chile was first in the junior women’s single sculls. Rojas has raced at the World Rowing Junior Championships for the last three years and has improved her placing every year. This year she was tenth overall. Daniela Girardi of Argentina was 14 seconds back but still took silver.

The under-23 women’s single was won by Florencia Lapostol Piderit of Chile. Piderit had a close race with Claudia Caballero Larco of Peru who ended up second.

The regatta was held at Tigre, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and acted as a warm-up for the venue of the Latin American Olympic Qualification Regatta. The event will be held from 22 to 25 March 2012.

At the end of the regatta the Congress of the South American Confederation (COPARE) appointed a new president. Raul Poletti of Argentina will take over from John Oberti Pesce (Uruguay). Top on the agenda for the Congress was to look towards potentially setting up a Pan American regatta for junior rowers in 2012. They are also looking at the overall development of rowing in South America and how to increase participation.