PAN-AMERICAN GAMES

Lots of medals to ex-Optimist sailors.

The recently concluded Pan American Games saw former Optimist sailors achieve a host of medals.

In the Laser Class all six medals went to ex-Optimists. Julio Alsogaray (ARG), gold in the men's event, had taken bronze in the Optimist Worlds of 1994, Guatemala's Juan I. Maegli and Tania Elias Calles (MEX) were former Optimist Worlds participants while Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG), Matias del Solar (CHI) and Paige Railey (USA) had also sailed the boat.

But results were not confined to the Olympic Laser Class. Sunfish Class victor Matheus Dellagnello (BRA) had placed 4th in the 2001 IODA Worlds, and bronze medallist Francisco Renna (ARG) was member of the 2003 and 2005 World Team Race winning teams. In the Hobies 16-year old Optimist Worlds veteran Victor Aponte crewed to gold for the legendary Enrique Figueroa (PUR) while bronze medallist Jason Hess was another of the first generation of Guatemalan Optimist sailors (GUA 6 at the millennium Worlds!).

Even in the J/24s winner Mauricio Oliveira (BRA), better known as a Tornado Class Olympian, had also sailed Optimists almost a quarter of a century ago.

In the photos below: Julio Alsogaray.

Before... 1988

After... 2011