After 13 festive days and nights in Argentina, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires are finally drawing to a close. There are some names that were established in South America this month, that will forever be linked to these Games. I will address that further on.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the atmosphere and vibrancy witnessed this month in the Tango Nation is likely what many IOC organizers wanted to see in Rio De Janeiro two years ago. Many fans in Argentina were approaching these Youth Games as if they were the real thing. It’s probably one of the country’s biggest international sporting events since hosting and winning the 1978 World Cup.
For these athletes and fans, it was an eclectic mix of education and celebration. Something our 2018 world could use more of. International camaraderie was a central theme in these Games– that face was most apparent in the mixed-nation competitions.
No, I was not in attendance. I had to follow the YOG stringently through Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and last but not least- BuenosAires2018.com.
Before I can review my favorite moments and stars from these Games, I’ll look back at Team USA‘s final medal of 2018.
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Heaven-Sent
That is none other than South Central Los Angeles boxer Heaven Destiny Garcia, who landed punches, as well as a bronze medal Thursday in the women’s fly (48-51kg) competition.
Her opponent Goryana Stoeva of Bulgaria did not make the match easy for the SoCal. Yes, Heaven Destiny did win on a clean 5-0 decision, but not without Goryana keeping her on her toes. From watching the bout on my workplace computer, it seemed that the match could change at any point. As a United States fan, I was becoming anxious for Garcia.
That said, Heaven Destiny gets to go back to the West Coast with a hard-earned Youth Olympics bronze.
Immortalized in Buenos Aires
It’s rather odd to use the word “immortalized” and Youth Olympics in the same context. However, there are great personalities and competitors who deserve to be long-remembered.
Whenever I look back at Nanjing 2014, I remember sprinter Noah Lyles, boxer Shakur Stevenson, and rhythmic gymnast Laura Zeng. In Lillehammer 2016, there was 18-year-old halfpipe hall-of-famer Chloe Kim, alpine skier River Radamus, and the gold medal-winning Team USA Ice Hockey Team.
Below are some names that will likely be attached to these two weeks in 2018:
(Names in alphabetical order.)
- Bumblebee, Russia (dancesport)
We can spend all day arguing if breakdance deserves to be placed on the Olympic program. However, there is no disputing the fact Sergei Chernyshe AKA “Bumblebee” is among the world’s best up-and-coming.
Even though he bested his French foe Martin 4-0 (19-1) in the final, the greatest surprise came as he knocked off the world’s No. 1 breaker Shigekix of Japan in the semis. The Nippon-wonder appeared unstoppable in the first-round, but that may have been when he used all of his tricks.
Days after becoming a well-respected breakdance name, he joined up with Austrian Ella for bronze in the mixed team contest.
- Trenton Cowles, United States (archery)
Trenton‘s journey to the Youth Olympic archery range became a hot story on the Web this week. You can read this story on TeamUSA.org, to learn how the Californian channeled his passion for video games to become one of the best young marksmen in the world.
His 6-0 gold medal-clinching win over India’s Akash Akash was not the only hardware he earned in Buenos Aires this week. On Sunday, he joined up with Quinn Reddig of Namibia for bronze in the mixed team international event.
Spoiler Alert: More on her below!
- Mattie Hatcher, United States (equestrian)
If you recall, Mattie was actually the first American athlete to be donned with a gold medal at this year’s Youth Olympics. It came with four other good friends in four other North American countries in equestrian’s jumping international team competition.
While facing Team Europe in a jump-off, the Little Rock teenager and her loyal horse Santa Rosa Valery rode a mistake-free 31.66 on a critical leg to give the North Americans the title as the best in the world.
Just a few days later, Mattie and Santa Rosa Valery teamed up once again, finishing fourth in the individual event. On social media, it appears that the equine enthusiast had as much fun as anyone this month in Argentina. The main intention of the mixed team competition is to make friends with other people in other countries. Mattie seemed to do that as well as anyone!
- Delfina Pignatiello, Argentina (Swimming)
Much like Mattie, Delfina had an infectious personality– largely felt throughout social media circles around the world.
In the middle-distance swimming events, the Argentine Aquagirl became an immediate fan favorite. In the closed-air Natatorium, fans were chanting ARG-GENT-TI-NA!, ARG-GENT-TI-NA!
While taking the pool in the women’s 800m freestyle, the gold medal appeared to be hers. Close to 600m in the race, she was passed by Hungarian Ajna Kesely, who held on for gold. Delfina stayed her course, earning silver as a result.
However, the story isn’t about the medals earned. While standing on the podium, a much-tearful Pignatiello held up the phrase “Abuela“ written on her hand, in honor of her grandmother who passed away the week before. Delfina dedicated the race to her.
Note: I can sympathize. My excellent Grandmother passed away last month. Getting through these last few weeks has been very difficult.
Days later, Ajna and Delfina raced once again in the women’s 400m free, and finished with the same 1-2 result. That said, Pignatiello‘s personality summed up the youthful joy and innocence of these Games. Her smile will forever be a lasting image!
- Development in African Nations
While Dakar, Senegal is next-in-line to host the 2022 Summer Youth Olympics, much of the great continent of Africa appears to be in a favorable position for sport and development. This month in Buenos Aires, athletes from 14 African nations combined for 54 YOG medals, 16 of which were gold.
Terence Benjamin Saramandif, who represents the tiny African island of Mauritius, earned his country it’s first-ever medal in ANY Olympic competition, and it just happened to be gold. By crossing the finish line at 1:18.860 in the men’s canoe obstacle slalom, he became one of the most-memorable names of these Games.
As I mentioned a few paragraphs above, there’s also the archer Quinn Reddig of Namibia, who shared Youth Olympics bronze with American Trenton Cowles in their sport’s mixed team event. Quinn‘s marks’woman’ship was key in the pair’s 5-3 comeback win against Rebecca Jones of New Zealand and Chinchin Tang of Chinese Taipei. Reddig returned days later to compete in the women’s recurve competition. There, she finished ninth. It’s still honorable to be in the world’s top ten.
This Facebook page “Archery in Namibia“ is quite interesting. I’m already set to follow it long past these Buenos Aires Games.
Zambia was another nation that made international headlines this week. While sprinter Kennedy Luchembe nabbed silver in the men’s 400 class (almost taking the top spot along the way), and fellow-racer Niddy Minglishi did likewise in the same distance for the women. She gets to fly home with a bronze.
One of the most-inspirational stories of these Games was that of Zambia’s men’s field hockey team, and it’s unlikely rise to the medal round. This article from Olympic.org states this is likely because of the Olympic Youth Development Centre built in 2010- mainly for purposes such as this.
Sadly enough, Zambia’s dream run came to an abrupt end in the bronze medal final. There, they fell to the host-nation Argentina 4-0.
Closing Ceremony Review
There’s really not much to critique or review from the 2018 Youth Olympics Closing Ceremony. All the Olympic Channel broadcast pretty much showed was the protocol segments (parade of nations, Dakar handover, IOC president Thomas Bach closing the Games, extinguishing the cauldron, etc…).
I will say I did enjoy the segment of the athletes and volunteers interacting with Bach, as well as Gerardo Werthein, president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organizing Committee. It was a nice break from the same closing speech we hear every other year.
Back in the NBC studios, prime-time anchor Carolyn Manno closed the broadcast out by saying the world could learn from the innovation and harmony showcased in these Games. Manno also stated could also be a great “precursor” as to what lies ahead for many of them!
Buenos Aires is likely now the latest to catch the “Olympic bug“. The same can be said for Jakarta, Indonesia, who co-hosted a highly successful Asian Games with Palembang, before hosting another major event with the Asian Para Games. a month later Buenos Aires is in a solid position because it’s Games were held in front of hundreds of IOC dignitaries. We shall see!
Medal Zone 
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