Aug 17, 2023
Yesterday, August 16,Santiago Lange put an end to the Olympic cycle. In the middle of the Sailing World Championships 2023 and after failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, he decided to put an end to his 61 years of age to his professional career.
Three Olympic medals, one gold, four world titles and the America's Cup. After an inspiring career and a gold medal in Nacra 17 at Rio 2016, Santiago Lange hangs up the harness. The Argentinian, crewed by Victoria Travascio, contested his last Olympic class race yesterday in the mixed multihull fleet gold races at the Allianz Sailing World Championships.
The decision was made relatively recently, while participating in the Sailing World Championships. Together with Victoria Travascio in Nacra 17, her main goal was to qualify once again for the Olympic Games. However, she could not achieve it as the other Argentine duo formed by Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco was faster and got the only place for their country for Paris 2024.
Santiago confirmed his retirement through his social networks,"the road to Paris has come to an end" ... "I have to race the last three races of the World Championship and it will be my farewell to the Olympic circuit". "Paris was the dream we had with Vicky, but it didn't happen and I'm sad about that. But I am also happy for the road I have traveled, for the enormous joys that the sport has given me and that's what I want to focus on tomorrow when I say goodbye to my Olympic passion. It will be a goodbye and also a thank you to all those who accompanied me on this beautiful journey that will continue with new challenges", he concluded.
Santiago Lange is an Argentine naval architect and sailor, this has participated in six Olympic Games (1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2016), winning bronze medal in 2004 and 2008 and gold medal in 2016.
He also won four absolute world championships: three in the Snipe class (1985, 1993 and 1995) and one in the Tornado class (2004). In addition, he won two silver medals at the Pan American Games (1983 and 1987), a Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere championship in the Snipe class, two European Europe Gold Cup championships (1982 and 1983), a runner-up (2014) and a third place (2018) in the Nacra 17 World Championship, the Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia Trophy in 1986 and 1987 and six South American championships in various classes (MiniTon -1978-, Snipe -1985-, Europe -1989-, Laser -1996- and Tornado -1997, 1999-).
In short, a more than outstanding legend in Argentine sport is retiring. Lange helped considerably to position his country at the top of the sailing world, and also succeeded in promoting sailing in Argentina, which had been a sport that did not arouse much enthusiasm among his countrymen if it had not been for him and his great achievements.