Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, led this Monday a ceremony in Caracas to recognize the national delegation’s historic milestone at the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026.The ceremony in Caracas honored the 180 athletes who achieved a remarkable second-place overall finish for the first time in the competition’s history, in an unprecedented second-place finish with 83 medals, prominently highlighting the exceptional performance and leadership of women in sports.
Venezuelan Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, alongside Minister of Sport Franklin Cardillo and Venezuelan Olympic Committee President María Soto, described the national delegation’s performance at the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 as a “historic milestone.”
Text reads: “Official act of welcome and recognition to the national athletes who participated in the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026, by the Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez”
Rodríguez underscored that this triumph sends a powerful message of resilience to the world. She noted that these young competitors overcame significant disadvantages, including the severe economic blockade against Venezuela, to surpass even sporting powerhouses like Argentina.
Among her key remarks, she highlighted a “paradigm shift” within the nation’s sports structure, emphasizing that the majority of medals were clinched by women.
Venezuela’s Female Athletes Excelence
The Venezuelan delegation, comprising 103 women and 77 men aged between 14 and 17, demonstrated exceptional prowess, achieving an impressive 82% efficiency rate in reaching the podium.
Venezuela secured a total of 83 medals: 33 gold, 21 silver and 29 bronze. Minister Franklin Cardillo reported that the country earned medals in 18 of the 22 disciplines contested, attributing this widespread success to strategic planning aimed at the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games.
Noteworthy achievements included artistic gymnastics, where athlete Mía Victoria Garcés Morales secured the first historic gold medal in this category for Venezuela, adding three golds and one silver to her tally. The debut of badminton also saw the nation win its first silver and bronze medals, while Venezuela maintained its dominance in foundational disciplines such as weightlifting, athletics, and wrestling.
Out of the 33 gold medals, an astounding 25 were won by female athletes, accounting for more than 75% of the highest honors obtained in Panama.
During the heartfelt ceremony, the athletes formally presented the national flag to the authorities. The Bolivarian National Government reiterated its steadfast commitment to strengthening the competitive sports system, which begins with student and community games as a vital method for identifying and nurturing talent for the National Sports Plan.
This comprehensive strategy ensures that Venezuela continues to develop its sporting potential, fostering future generations of champions to represent the Bolivarian Nation on the international stage.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: Venezuelan Presidential Press
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