Chile scores rowing success after fire tragedy

The ODESUR Games, held recently in Cochabamba, Bolivia, happens every four years for South American countries.  It is a multi-sport event and 2018 marked the 11^th edition.

Chile’s success saw them top the rowing medals table with eight golds and six silver medals at the Games. This was the first time that Chile had been ahead of Argentina in medals. Argentina who won six golds and eight silver medals. These two nations accounted for all of the top medals in the 14 boat classes raced, leave a bronze medal spread between Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and Paraguay.

The Abraham sisters, Antonia and Melita were the force behind Chile’s success taking four gold medals each. Together they won the women’s double sculls, pair and quadruple sculls with Antonia then racing to gold in the women’s single sculls while Melita took gold in the lightweight women’s single sculls. The sisters are the reigning under-23 World Champions in the women’s pair and Melita raced at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the lightweight women’s double sculls.

Antonia and Melita are quintuplets and brother Ignacio also raced taking one gold and one silver medal. For Argentina, Brian Rosso won the men’s single sculls and quadruple sculls while older brother Cristian took gold in the men’s double sculls and quadruple sculls.

Next up for the Abraham sisters is to be Athlete Role Models at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires along with Cristian Rosso.

The ODESUR Games rowing event took place 18km from Cochabamba in Represa de la Angostura in Valle Alto.

Results here.