American sailors made a strong showing at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, bringing home two gold medals and one bronze after four days of racing in Encarnación, Paraguay. The international regatta drew athletes ages 17 to 22 from 23 countries across the Americas, with competition held on the shifting currents and light winds of the Paraná River.
The United States’ medal haul came from standout performances in both iQFOiL windsurfing and ILCA dinghy racing. In the ILCA 7 fleet, Hamilton Barclay won three of his five races to secure gold. Windsurfer Makani Andrews matched that record in the Men’s iQFOiL division, earning a gold of his own. With their victories, both Barclay and Andrews gained automatic qualification to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
“It feels great. This was the big event I worked toward all summer, and to see it all come together is a dream come true,” Barclay said after the win. Andrews added that competing against close friends from the iQFOiL circuit made the event especially meaningful.
On the final day of competition, Danicka Sailer added to Team USA’s medal count with a bronze in the Women’s iQFOiL class, closing her series with a race win. “I kept it simple: good jibes and good starts. Now I get a pretty cool medal and a little jaguar plushie, so that’s fun,” she said.
In the ILCA 6, Isabella Mendoza Cabezas posted a fifth-place finish, highlighted by a victory in the second race of the series.
Team coach Rosie Chapman praised the squad for its composure in difficult conditions, noting the collective support shown onshore and afloat. “A highlight of the week was watching the team rally together on the final morning to help Danicka rig and see her off the beach,” Chapman said. “It was a real testimony to the team environment. I am proud of these young athletes for their commitment, and the future is bright.”
The sailing portion of the Junior Pan American Games ran August 13–18, with racing completed August 15–17.
With three medals in total, the U.S. sailors left Paraguay with proof that the next generation of competitors is ready to make its mark on the international stage.
