Diddier Rodríguez wins gold and sets record at South American Games

Panamanian athlete Diddier Rodríguez won the gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2026 South American Games in Santa Fe, setting a new competition record with a time of 8:31.89. This performance also marked a personal best for Rodríguez, surpassing the previous record of 8:36.81 set by Venezuela’s José Peña in 2014.

Brazilian athlete Walace Evangelista took the silver medal with a time of 8:32.33, while Colombia’s Carlos Sanmartín earned the bronze with 8:33.01. This victory follows Rodríguez’s gold medal win at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in August.

Rodríguez’s performance contributed to a successful conclusion for the Panamanian delegation, which finished the games with a total of 16 medals: five gold, three silver, and eight bronze. This total represents an improvement over the 12 medals won by Panama at the previous edition in Asunción, Paraguay.