Flamengo shone at the 2026 Santa Fe South American Games, with rowing and judo athletes securing a total of 15 medals, including six golds, raising the red-and-black flag on the continental stage.
The Flamengo delegation left its mark on the 2026 Santa Fe South American Games, held in Argentina. With a remarkable performance across several disciplines, the Rio de Janeiro club contributed significantly to the Team Brazilmedal count, reinforcing its commitment to high-performance sports.
In total, 12 Flamengo athletes, representing both judo and rowing, reached the podium 15 times, securing an impressive haul of six golds, four silvers, and five bronzes. This significant achievement highlights Flamengo‘s athletic strength and diversity in a major continental event.
Rowing: Standing Out in Argentine Waters
The rowing team was one of Flamengo‘s major highlights, with 11 athletes involved and a total of 13 medals won across traditional and beach rowing events. The club secured four golds, four silvers, and five bronzes, demonstrating the red-and-black hegemony on the waters of Santa Fe.
In traditional rowing, rowers Beatriz Tavares and Jennifer Almeida won gold in the women’s double sculls. Silvers were secured by the women’s eight team, by Isabelle Falck in the lightweight single sculls, and again by Beatriz Tavares in the single sculls.
Rounding out the medal haul in traditional rowing, the quad sculls—featuring Isabelle Falck, Jennifer Almeida, and Lara Pizarro—took home a bronze. Additionally, Evaldo Becker (lightweight single sculls), Breno Ornellas (double sculls), and the mixed eight also secured bronzes for the club.
Beach rowing concluded the red-and-black participation with five more podium finishes. David Souza was crowned champion in both the men’s individual and the men’s double alongside Yan Costa. The mixed double, formed by Vangelys Reinke and Kissya Cataldo, also captured gold. Completing the celebration, Ana Caroline Freire took home two bronzes: one in the women’s individual and one in the women’s double alongside Fernanda Nunes.
Judo: Marcelo Gomes Shines with Double Gold
On the mats, judoka Marcelo Gomes was Flamengo‘s star, returning home with two gold medals. The matches, held in Rosario, saw the red-and-black athlete win the individual title in the under-90kg category and later shine in the mixed team competition.
Gomes‘ individual campaign was flawless. On Saturday (19), he defeated Peruvian Yuta Galarreta with an ippon in golden score during the final. Previously, he had overcome Venezuelan Johnhelius Patete and Ecuadorian John Caicedo, remaining undefeated in his category.
His contribution was crucial for Team Brazil on Sunday (20), when the mixed team defeated Venezuela 4-1. In the decisive match against Peru, Marcelo Gomes was once again the deciding factor, sealing the Brazilian victory 4-0 with a waza-ari in golden score.
The 2026 South American Games: An Overview
The 2026 Santa Fe South American Games are a major multi-sport competition that brings together athletes from 15 countries on the continent, held every four years. This year’s edition took place from September 12 to 26, with Rosario serving as the main host city, alongside other cities such as Santa Fe and Rafaela in Argentina. The event featured 43 sports disciplines, providing a grand stage for showcasing regional talent.
Flamengo‘s performance at the South American Games demonstrates the club’s excellence and investment in Olympic sports. The 15 medals won, highlighted by six golds in judo and rowing, not only elevates the prestige of the club but also contributes significantly to Team Brazil‘s overall performance in the competition.
This success reinforces Flamengo‘s tradition of developing and supporting athletes across various disciplines, establishing the club as a multi-sport powerhouse on the national and international stage. The expectation is that these results will inspire new generations and further strengthen Olympic sports within the club.
