Wind

On August 16th, 2016 Santiago Lange amazed the sporting world when he and his teammate Cecilia Carranza won the gold medal in sailing at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. At that time he was 54 years old, it was his sixth Olympic participation and he fought against unbelievable obstacles. His victory was an incomparable demonstration of his will to fight – not even one year after he had to undergo surgery because of lung cancer. Santiago Lange gave the world of sailing an unforgettable moment of glory. But how did he manage to get back on his feet in such a short time, to train without rest and to take part at the Olympic Games again? And why did he fight when his body, friends and family thought it was time to stop? “Nothing gives me more joy of life and adrenaline than the challenge of sport. When I’m on the water, my thoughts rest. Time stands still. I feel the wave, I feel the wind turning. The tension of the boat tells me that I have to change course or trim. I react, the boat gets faster and everything else doesn’t exist anymore. It’s always been like that.” Santiago Lange

Author Biography

Santiago Lange, born in 1961 in Buenos Aires, is one of the most distinguished sailors in the history of Argentine yachting. He studied naval architecture in England and has been engaged in the sport since his early youth. In 2016 he won the gold medal alongside Cecilia Carranza Saroli at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.