Argentina and Chile pentathletes dominate at ODESUR Games in Bolivia

Athletes from Argentina, Chile and Brazil played starring roles in the Modern Pentathlon competition at the 11th ODESUR Games in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The South American multi-sports event returned to the country of its origin for the first time since it was created in 1978 and continued a succession of major sports events in South America, following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and with the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (ARG) on the horizon as well as the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima (PER).

Pentathlon featured strongly in Cochabamba with Men’s and Women’s Individual events and a Mixed Relay captivating the large crowds who attended the fencing centre, aquatic park and country club that hosted the five disciplines.

Rio 2016 Olympian Iryna Khokhlova (ARG) won the women’s gold medal ahead of silver medallist Ayelen Zapata (ARG) and Pamela Zapata (ARG). The rules dictate that each participating country can only have two results, so the bronze medal went to Ieda Guimarães (BRA).

The men’s gold medal went to Esteban Bustos (CHI), who was joined on the podium by his compatriot Benjamin Ortiz (CHI) with Sergio Villamayor (ARG) claiming bronze.

The Mixed Relay was won by Brazil (Ieda Guimarães & Victor Aguiar) ahead of silver medallists Argentina (Pamela & Emanuel Zapata) and third-placed Ecuador (Nelson Torres & Marcela Cuaspud).

Athletes from host nation Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and Panama also took part in the competition.

Jorge Salas, President of the South American Modern Pentathlon Confederation, played a role in the medal ceremonies alongside other leading Olympic sports administrators from the region. Several members of the pentathlon community in the Americas played a role in the organisation of the competition.