Team Chile gave an extremely positive account of itself following its participation in the Asunción 2022 South American Games. The Chilean delegation finished a historic fourth in the medal table with our country’s best performance in 32 years.
Chilean athletes won a total of 38 gold medals (the highest number since 1990), 31 silver medals and 62 bronze medals. The total of 131 left us only behind Brazil, Colombia and Argentina in the medal table.
More than 700 athletes participated in Team Chile, over 15 days of competition that took place in Asunción, Paraguay.
“We are so proud of what Team Chile has achieved in Asunción. It is a historic result, the best in 32 years. It is the result of the effort made by our athletes and the serious work that we have been involved in for 12 years as part of our Olympic Plan, alongside the State and our federations,” stated Miguel Ángel Mujica, president of the Chilean Olympic Committee (COCh).
Among the outstanding performances is undoubtedly the triumph of the “Diablas” (Devils) in field hockey. In winning the gold, they beat Argentina’s “Leonas” (Lionesses), recent world finalists in the sport.
The golds won by the Grimalt cousins in beach volleyball, the historic gold medal in basketball, and team performances in rowing, table tennis, karate, water skiing, and athletics, which contributed multiple gold medals, also stand out.
This great showing is an excellent omen for what will be Team Chile’s next great challenge: the Santiago 2023 Pan and Parapan American Games. This will be the most important multi-sport event in Chile’s history, and will take place from October 20 next year.