ODESUR Games, lately surged "South American Olympics", is relatively less-known event for outsiders. But in Latin America, it means something. The Games begun in Bolivian capital La Paz in 1978 under the name of Juegos Cruz del Sur (Southern Cross Games), nearly four-months after Argentina’s famous FIFA World Cup victory in their home soil. With the absent of Brazil, the biggest country of the region, Argentina easily secured medal table lead both in overall and athletics specifically.
To be truthful, The Games was not high level in the beginning due to lack of participation and marred by other events in same calendar year. Even so, the expansion of Brazil and some minor countries in 1990s, ODESUR Games has progressed well. Last several editions have staged some brilliant contests in all sports while continent’s leading athletes perform in it more frequently, now.
Natalia Duco, former World Junior champion from Chile, is one of the important names at the Games’ growing past. She is due to participate for the fifth consecutive South American (ODESUR) Games in Asuncion, and first time as a mother.
PAINFUL BREAK AND A REASON TO STAND UP
Four years ago, she had won actually shot put competition with her fourth successive Games record by a distant measurement, 18.15m. However, she failed a doping test shortly, in April, prior to preparation period of South American Games. Duco banned from the competition immediately, but her case negotiations lasted until March 2019, eventually her gold medal forfeited by ODESUR. The South American Olympic Authority indicated the sanction applied by Chilean Anti-Doping Commission to the athlete has been extended to Cochabamba 2018 South American Games.
She handed three-year ban and lost her record-breaking fourth consecutive gold as well, because she has been only athlete to have four titles in a single event at the Games history.
Natalia Duco devastated at that moment but quickly rehabilitated by a baby boy. She gave birth her son Luciano, age of three now, and find brilliant reason to focus on next chapter after her sin-bin.
The Chilean putter made a successful comeback to international athletics in Valledupar as secured silver medal at Bolivarian Games. That was her first medal in five years and one of precious ones for the athlete who continuously placed at the podium for the past 12 season.
Recently, Natalia Duco Soler selected to Chilean Team for South American Games once more, a fifth time. She’ll be in the throwing circle at Paraguayan capital Asuncion and try to restore damaged reputation as well. If she can be able to bounce back, will be proved her immortality on Chilean athletics. Well, of course in the record books: She has strong possibility (joining with another triple winner, Brazilian pole vaulter Augusto Dutra who also in Asuncion) to name as “only athlete to have four titles in same event at South American Games”.
