Tokyo 2020: South America sets Olympic medal record driven by Brazil; Argentina disappoints

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Driven by Brazil, South America had its most significant result this century in the Olympics medal table. The 36 podium places achieved by the teams from Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina exceed the 33 in Rio-2016.

In the 21st century, before Tokyo and Rio, South America held 31 podiums in London-2012, 28 in Beijing-2008, 24 in Athens-2004, and 18 in Sydney-2000.

The result was enabled by the historic Brazilian and Ecuadorian marks. Both countries had their best performances in the history of the Games. Brazilians won 21 medals (7 gold) and Ecuadorians won 3. Of these, 2 were gold: Neisi Dajomes (weightlifting) and Richard Carapaz (cycling).

“Despite the conditions, South American athletes have the capacity to come here and win. There is a difference in funding, not talent,” celebrated Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, gold medalist in the women’s triple jump, Venezuela’s only one in Tokyo 2020.

She used her own example of a poor girl growing up in a neighborhood in the state of Anzoátegui which has disappeared because of the constant rains and strong winds.

Of the 5 South American countries that won medals in Tokyo, Colombia and Argentina performed worse than in 2016. The Colombians left Japan with 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. In Rio, they had obtained 8, 3 of which were gold.

Argentina was the greatest disappointment. With a poor campaign in soccer, failing to reach the podium in basketball, and defeated in the women’s field hockey final, the country had its worst Olympic campaign since Barcelona-1992. In Tokyo 2020, the result was 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

“The great Argentine frustration is when the Games end and the next day nothing else happens. For the next 3 years and 11 months the subject is not spoken of again. With or without budget, a sports project is required,” said Jon Uriarte, volleyball bronze medalist in Seoul-1988.

If Argentina had beaten the Netherlands in the field hockey final, if Paula Pareto, the country’s judo hopeful, had repeated her Olympic title won 5 years ago, or if men’s basketball had gone all the way, South America could have won a record number of gold medals too. These have declined. The 10 won in Japan are fewer than the 13 won in Rio.

Thirteen is also the number of countries that make up South America. Only French Guiana, an overseas department of France, had no delegation in Tokyo. Of the other 12, more than half left the Olympics with no medals: Bolivia, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay. But these traditionally hold few medals.

Chile has not won a medal since Beijing-2008, when Fernando González won silver in tennis. Paraguay’s only podium finish this century came with a 2nd place in men’s soccer in Athens-2004. Uruguay has not achieved a good result since cyclist Milton Wynants won silver in Sydney-2000.

Peru and Suriname have no podiums this century. Their last medal came in Barcelona-1992. Peruvian Juan Giha won silver in shooting. Surinamese swimmer Anthony Nesty was bronze in the 100m butterfly. Bolivia and Guyana have never reached the podium.

“To get to the Games, the screening is huge. Winning a medal is for very few. It is very difficult. Many good athletes fall by the wayside,” said Brazilian Judo bronze medalist in Tokyo Daniel Cargnin.

He was referring to athletes, but the Olympic podium can also be an illusion for countries. If South America were a country, it would finish 7th overall, ahead of the Netherlands which won the same 36 medals, 10 of which were gold. But the South Americans would have the upper hand in terms of the number of silver medals: 15 compared to 12.

Source: Folha