Who is Santiago Rearte, the boy from Caleta Olivia who won the figure skating world cup at the age of 10

Santiago Rearte has 10 yearshe is thin, slender, still has teeth that have not finished growing and the smile does not fade from his face. Brand new figure skating world champion in Paraguay, he is emerging as one of the great values ​​of the specialty in Argentina.

Born in Olivia Calarepresents Comodoro Rivadavia and is the small great value of Argentina national figure skating team and can already claim to be world champion.

“He’s very diligent, very respectful and our work as adults, coaches and even psychologists is that does not lose its naturalness“, He told him in Clarin Celeste Garay, her trainer.

“The mascot” of the delegation “has a natural gift“who is admired by the rest of the delegation, made up of older youngsters, but far from generating jealousy, he integrates into the group and “they come looking for him”, “like now, when they took him away know other clues on the property before dining at the hotel,” says his trainer.

Santiago he will return with his trophy next Friday, almost a week after his coronation in Paraguaywhere he won the “mini men’s free skating. First Place”, as the trophy says, almost as big as his head, that of a 10-year-old boy.

The promising Argentinian won the 2023 Artistic International Series in its category held in Asunción and organized by World Skate, the label that brings together sports on boards and wheeled shoes which is the official olympic federation.

Who is that boy and champion from Patagonia

It started at the age of two by climbing on his sister Sofía’s skates. like a game, like children know the world. However, his skills and his ability to move on the four wheels of each skate led him to show the grace of him on the track and to compete.

“At the age of 4 he was already doing very advanced technical things, he has a very advanced birth condition“, says his coach, who clarifies that since Santiago is “very demanding”, they talk to him permanently for which he doesn’t have “extra pressurewhich often imposes itself”.

“He’s a saint. a lot applied to everything, even at school. It’s quiet. super respectful and likes to draw. He’s still a 10-year-old kid, but he’s no trouble.”

He’s “a real skateboard fanatic,” describes Garay, who recalls an anecdote his mother told him: “They took him to play soccer and he went to save, but forward to the skate stuff. His passion is skating, he practiced movements, routines.” The ball is not always as hypnotic as you think.

This Tuesday, Santiago lifted a trophy in the Paraguayan capital. A dull and seemingly satiny circle on a wooden base, almost as big as his head. “Men’s mini free skating. First place”, reads the plaque on the front of the award which certifies it as the best in its category and even with an Olympic projection, even if it is still a few years away. It will be 2028, it will be 2032. It doesn’t matter, the truth is that Rearte “is still in the training phase”.

“The tension is always. Anxiety… it’s a super important tournament where 14 countries participated”said Garay, who said that “always bring a bear or a pet, but not this time.

“Didn’t you bring me a pet? I asked him,” the coach said with a laugh, remembering his own surprise. “Now he’s the mascot of the group,” he adds, on the “cabulero” side of the new champion.

THE Children’s Activities Committeeknown in southern Argentina as “the CAI”congratulated his credit for the achievement on his social networks, that’s it in their facilities, where Garay and Santiago polish the small southern diamond.

Santiago did not need to make a final pass in the competition, as there was no final by decision of the tournament organization, so his grades on Monday took him to the top.

“We are happy, excited because we saw it well, amused and very calm,” added his mother, as reported by the Patagonian media Tiempo Sur.

The trip to Paraguay, climbing to glory in the Top and Mini Children categories, “wasn’t easy”, explained Viviana.

“As a family it was a marathon for be able to raise funds and be able to participate because the reality is that he represents the Argentine national team, but the expenses are paid by the athlete.

The club, the municipality of Comodoro, the government of chubut and close to the family has collaborated so that Rearte can reach Asunción. Despite being one of the youngest in the national team, his abilities were already seen as unusual, then and now.

“His skills were not common at his age. She started competing at the age of four with outstanding techniques,” said Viviana.

Santiago begins to greet Paraguay with a story in his own instagram. A photo of the city, with a flag of that country and a smiley emoji. All of his posts, including his username, have to do with skateboarding. They 834 followers join the festivities that appear the account “under adult supervision”. A champion, who is a child.