Costa Rica’s archery team delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 South American Youth and Masters Open Championships, held from October 14 to 18 in Daule, Ecuador. The national athletes returned home with two gold medals, one silver medal and four new national records, in a competition that brought together representatives from 13 countries.
The results were achieved by Yhorman Morales Fuentes and Carlos Salas Rodríguez, both from Cartago, and Carlos Córdoba Mora, representing Heredia.
Two Gold Medals for Cartago
One of the most notable performances came from Yhorman Morales Fuentes, who won the men’s Under-15 compound bow category. The young Costa Rican archer finished first in the qualification round with 682 points, setting two new national records during the championship.
His performance also marked an improvement on his previous appearance at the Pan American Youth Championships held in Medellín, Colombia, in May 2026. On that occasion, he scored 678 points in the qualification round and won a bronze medal. In Ecuador, he improved his score by four points.
The second gold medal went to Carlos Salas Rodríguez, who won the men’s compound bow category for athletes over 50. After finishing second in the qualification round with 647 points, the archer from Cartago faced a Brazilian competitor in the final, securing victory by a narrow margin of 140 to 139.
A Silver Medal and Two New Records for Heredia
Costa Rica’s third medal was won by Carlos Córdoba Mora, who finished second in the men’s Under-15 recurve bow category.
The archer from Heredia scored 645 points in the qualification round and established two new national records during the tournament.
With these results, the Costa Rican team finished the championship with three medals in total and four new national records, across both youth and masters categories.
The Preparation Behind the Results
These achievements also reflect the training and technical support behind the athletes’ performances.
Cartago representatives Yhorman Morales and Carlos Salas train under the guidance of Auxiliadora Argüello Mora and Alexander Mora Arias, who are affiliated with the Cartago Cantonal Sports and Recreation Committee (CCDRC).
Meanwhile, Carlos Córdoba Mora receives support from his father and coach, Carlos Córdoba, who is involved in his athletic development.
An International Competition Featuring 13 Countries
The championship in Daule brought together 112 archers from 13 countries, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and the United States, alongside representatives from other nations.
The events included several archery disciplines, such as recurve, compound and barebow, with categories for athletes under 15, under 18 and under 21, as well as competitors over 50.
The competition gave Costa Rican athletes the opportunity to face competitors from across the continent and gain valuable international experience.
The results achieved by Yhorman Morales, Carlos Salas and Carlos Córdoba highlight the dedication of the athletes and their coaches, while showcasing Costa Rican talent across different generations of South American archery.
Sources
- Delfino.cr – “Costa Rica conquista dos oros y una plata en el Suramericano de Tiro con Arco 2026” (October 30, 2026).
- World Archery – “Reigning champions return as South American Youth and Masters Championships head to Daule” (October 12, 2026).
- World Archery – “Ecuador tops medal table on home soil at South American Youth and Masters Championships” (October 19, 2026).
