The ninth edition of the South American Games in Medellin had the rowing event taking place in Guatape, on the outskirts of Medellin. Guatape is at 1,900m altitude and the rowing regatta was held on a reservoir which was constructed for hydro electricity in the late 1960s. Nine countries participated with Argentina coming out as clear overall leaders, winning 10 of the 14 events. Argentina won a total of 12 medals which was matched by second overall Brazil who also took 12 medals; two gold, three silver and seven bronze. Uruguay finished third overall.
Argentina’s medal tally was helped by three-time Olympian Santiago Fernandez who was part of the winning men’s double and quad. Both the men’s and women’s single went to Argentina with Gabriela Best easily winning the women’s single over Soraya Jadue Arriaza of Chile. Best and Arriaza both raced in the single at the Beijing Olympics. Best also finished first in the pair with partner Laura Abalo.
In the lightweight women’s single and double, Milka Kraljev, 27, earned two gold medals. Kraljev is a veteran of the 2004 Olympic Games but has not been seen internationally since 2005. Colombia’s Rodrigo Ideus Forero got to race for the first time in his home country when he competed in last month’s South American Games in Medellin, Colombia. 
Forero, 23, raced in the lightweight men’s single finishing second to world under-23 silver medallist, Ailson Silva of Brazil. Olympian Forero has done nearly all of his rowing in England where he studies. This regatta was the first time he has raced in Colombia and the historical moment was well recognised by the host nation.
Both the lightweight men’s quad and the lightweight men’s four had nail-biting finishes. Just 11/100th of a second separated Argentina and Venezuela at the finish with Argentina just in front. Argentina pulled off a similar feat in the lightweight four, this time against Chile. Argentina’s winning time was just 31/100th of a second ahead of the Chilean crew which included Miguel Cerda Silva. Silva, 40, has a rowing career that stretches back to 1990 and he is the 2002 World Champion in the lightweight pair.
The regatta has stimulated the growth of rowing in Colombia and 10 new national umpires are now qualified to organise local events. A new sports centre recently opened in Guatape which formerly has not been used for rowing and 30 new boats have been purchased.
The South American Games have been going since 1978 and the tenth edition will be in Santiago, Chile in 2014.
Source: www.worldrowing.com
