Argentina Win Gold at Pan American Games

A heroic performance from Alejo Lavayén saw Argentina winning Gold at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago del Chile. Argentina defeated Chile 24-5 in the Final on Saturday. Lavayén scored a hat-trick.

Lavayén broke off from a scrum to score the opening try. Los Pumas 7’s were 5-0 up early. Comeback kid Santiago Mare broke the defense to set-up Lavayén for his second try. Mare was also the provided for the third with him feeding Lavayén who completed his hat-trick.

In the second-half Manuel Bustamente hit-back. Chile were on the board but Argentina responded with a try to Matías Osadczuk. In defeating Chile, Argentina won Gold and Chile Silver at the Pan American Games. Uruguay missed out after a disappointing opening day.

 

Argentina’s Gold means Los Pumas 7’s successfully defended their Pan American title. Argentina won Gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. They defeated Canada who had won Gold at Toronto 2015 and Guadalajara 2011.

Canada’s Gold Medals at the 2015 and 2011 Pan American Games both came by defeating Argentina in the Final. The USA won Bronze in both those games and again in Lima 2019.

Chile’s Silva Medal performance in Santiago 2023 sees Los Cóndores 7’s winning their first ever medal in Rugby Sevens in Pan American Games history. Chile completed a upset win over Uruguay o Day One. The 24-7 win was followed by Chile falling 28-12 to Argentina and rebounding to defeat Jamaica 27-12.

Chile’s run to winning the Silver Medal was thus firmly in motion after Day One. On Day Two the Chileans defeated the USA 15-12 in the Semi Final. This sent the USA into the Bronze Final and Chile into the Final. A little over a month after Chile faced Argentina at the Rugby World Cup the teams competed for Gold at the Pan American Games.

 

DAY ONE RESULTS – MEN’S
USA 48-7 Mexico
Canada 22-12 Brazil
Argentina 40-7 Jamaica
Chile 24-7 Uruguay
USA 17-5 Brazil
Canada 42-5 Mexico
Jamaica 0-41 Uruguay
Chile 12-28 Argentina
USA 19-5 Canada
Brazil 29-0 Mexico
Argentina 35-5 Uruguay
Chile 27-12 Jamaica

DAY TWO RESULTS – MEN’S
Jamaica 14-27 Brazil
Uruguay 40-12 Mexico
Chile 15-12 USA
Argentina 21-7 Canada
7th Place Final: Jamaica 26-24 México
5th Place Final: Brasil 14-15 Uruguay
Bronze Medal Final: USA 17-19 Canada
Gold Medal Final: Argentina 24-5 Chile

 

HISTORIC RESULTS

PAN AMERICAN GAMES – Guadalajara 2011 (Mexico)
Gold: Canada
Silve: Argentina
Bronze: USA

PAN AMERICAN GAMES – Toronto 2015 (Canada)
Gold: Canada
Silver: Argentina
Bronze: USA

PAN AMERICAN GAMES – Lima 2019 (Peru)
Gold: Argentina
Silver: Canada
Bronze: USA