Santiago 2023: world figures and a great gateway to Paris with more than 100 seats at stake

The Pan American Games are not mini Olympic Games. They are something quite different and it could even be said that for many athletes they are more than that; they represent like never before the ideal bridge to arrive non-stop from Santiago 2023 to Paris 2024. In addition to the fact that some of the regional powers such as the United States, Canada or Brazil do not have their best teams in some fundamental sports, it must also be borne in mind that their program includes several disciplines that are not a regular part of the Olympic elections. In some cases, such as ball, racquetball or bowling, they have never been.

The 19th edition of the Pan American Games will be historic: it never gave so many direct places to the Olympic Games, while for several sports they will also be important because they will award points for the Olympic ranking.

In Santiago 2023 there will be more than 100 places at stake and most of them will be for the champions or finalists, although in some cases, such as boxing, even the semi finalists will have their place in Paris. Hence the importance of the event in the trans-Andean capital.

The sports that will qualify for the Olympic Games are Boxing, Breaking, Diving, Equestrian (training, full event and jumping), Sport climbing, Gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic and trampoline), Handball, Field Hockey, Artistic Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Surf, Tennis, Table Tennis, Sports Shooting, Archery, Sailing and Water Polo.

In addition, swimming and athletics competitions are within the established date to make the necessary marks to be in Paris 2024, so swimmers and athletes will have a chance to qualify.

Meanwhile, there will be 10 sports that will award points for the Olympic ranking: Badminton, Basketball 3×3, BMX Freestyle, BMX Cycling, Mountain Biking, Track Cycling, Road Cycling, Swimming, Taekwondo, Triathlon and Weightlifting.

World and Olympic champions, present at Santiago 2023

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, gold medal in Tokyo 2020 in jumping and silver medal in All Around, will be one of the great figures and will participate for the first time in the Pan American Games. The gymnast arrives in Santiago 2023 as a world champion in jumping and surpassing none other than Simone Biles in the race.

Another Olympic champion in Tokyo who will also have her Pan-American debut is Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, who won three medals in Tokyo 2020 (gold in 100 meters butterfly, silver in 4×100 freestyle relay and was bronze in combined 4×100 relay).

Dominican athlete Marileidy Paulino (brand-new world champion in the 400 meters in Budapest 2023), Cuban judoka Idalys Ortiz (bronze in Beijing 2008, gold in London 2012 and silver in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020), Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz (Olympic champion in the road test in Tokyo 2020), Anderson Peters from Granada (two-time world champion in javelin throwing), Mexican diver Alejandra Orozco (silver in London 2012 and bronze in Tokyo 2020) and Colombian Mariana Pajón (gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016) and silver in Tokyo 2020 in BMX Racing) will be other of the stars at Santiago 2023. The show is guaranteed.