Colombia Leads in the Bolivarian Youth Games

The Colombian national delegation has achieved an impressive total of 144 medals in the inaugural edition of the Bolivarian Youth Games, held from Friday, April 5th to Sunday, April 14th in Sucre, Bolivia. Colombian athletes lead overall with 54 golds, 43 silvers, and 47 bronzes.

The Patria Stadium serves as the epicenter of the event, gathering the finest youth athletes from Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama, and Peru, all of which are part of the Bolivarian Sports Organization (ODEBO). Over 1000 athletes from the Olympic committees of these seven countries, along with other invited delegations, are participating in the competitions.

Colombian youth excel in squash, athletics, and cycling

On the ninth day of the competition, Colombia garnered 18 medals. Sports such as squash and athletics showcased remarkable performances, contributing six gold medals on the day. Squash excelled in various categories including individual men’s, men’s doubles, and women’s categories. Juan Jose Torres stood out by securing gold in both the singles and doubles categories, partnering with Juan Irisarri. Luciana Martinez and Maria Camila Sabogal secured the top position in the women’s doubles.

The national delegation also leads in athletics, amassing 24 medals, comprising nine golds, four silvers, and eleven bronzes. Recently, top honors were secured by Alejandra Jimenez in the long jump, Luciana Zapata in the 100m hurdles, Luna Pabon in the pole vault, and Karol Luna in the 1500m race.

Additionally, road cycling concluded participation in the games, with both men’s and women’s long-distance events. Luciana Osorio claimed her second gold medal in this discipline, while Manuela Cantor secured third place. Juan David Restrepo emerged victorious in the men’s long-distance event.

Colombian athletic prowess at the Bolivarian Youth Games

Colombia’s prowess extends to sports such as boxing and weightlifting, with athletes gearing up for the final two days of competition in disciplines including mountain biking, archery, and judo. Notably, 44 of the total medallists are athletes who have undergone the Advanced Development Project process, a Ministry of Sports initiative that identifies talents across different regions of the country to prepare them for future competitions.

Originally slated for Lima, Peru, the Bolivarian Youth Games were relocated to Sucre in 2017 after the Peruvian Olympic Committee declined to host. This Sunday will mark the last day of the competition, which hosts around 4,500 guests from 11 countries and awards medals in multiple disciplines, providing an ideal stage for the Colombian delegation to further establish the country’s standing as a sporting powerhouse in the continent.