Argentina rowing strong at South American Games

The regatta had seven boat classes with Argentina striking gold in six of them.

Raced at Laguna Curauma, Valparaiso about an hour outside of host city Santiago, Chile, the venue is considered one of the best places for rowing in Latin America, with a surrounding forest giving the lake natural protection from wind.

The seventh gold went to Fabiana Beltrame of Brazil. Beltrame became a World Champion in the lightweight women's single sculls in 2011 and has remained strong in this event since. But at the South American Games, Beltrame moved into the open weight category, finishing ahead Olympian Maria Gabriela Best of Argentina and Chile's Antonia Abraham Schuessler, who was less than half a second back in third.

Beltrame also raced in the lightweight women's single sculls finishing second to Lucia Fernanda Palermo of Argentina. Josefa Vila Betancur of Chile was third.

The men's single sculls was won by Brian Rosso of Argentina. Rosso raced last year internationally in the men's quadruple sculls and also trialled for the London 2012 Olympic Games in that boat. Chile's Bernardo Guerrero Diaz came in second.

One of the surprise results was the men's four. Chile's lightweight crew raced in this event and finished just two seconds behind the winners, Argentina, in the final.

Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru and host Chile participated with Brazil finishing second overall behind Argentina and Chile in third.

President of the Jury, Monica de la Maza, noted that for the first time in Chile a photo finish system was used. "This was a real help to the finish judges," said de la Maza, "because in almost every event the crews finished very close to each other. De la Maza also said a large number of spectators stretched along the course especially on finals day.

The South American Games are held every four years and rowing has been part of the last four editions.
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