From 10 to 13 May, a Youth Athlete Development Training Camp was held in Costa Rica with the support of World Rowing (WR) and COPARE, in the lead-up to the 2026 Americas Beach Sprint Championships.
Set against the exceptional conditions of Punta Leona Beach, the young athletes benefited from an outstanding environment as they geared up for the prestigious event.
Eyes on Youth Development
Under the leadership of World Rowing Americas Development experts Marc Oria, Osvaldo Borchi and Ruben Scarpati, preparations for the championship commenced with a clear focus on safety.
Over four days, very intensive work was carried out with the group of young athletes and their respective coaches.
Costa Rica
Athletes: Antonio Camacho, Thomas Rodríguez
Coach: Ninibeth Barazarte
El Salvador
Athletes: Diego Peña, Sofia Rodríguez
Coach: Julio Amaya
Honduras
Athlete: Elena Lara
Coach: Cristian Campos
Paraguay
Athletes: Victoria Giménez, Juan Iglesias
Coach: Arturo Rivarola
United States
Athlete: Angel Leland
Upon arrival, teams took part in interactive and engaging activities aimed at reducing potential risks and confirming swimming proficiency.
Training sessions were held at Playa Mantas, within the Punta Leona Beach Club & Nature Resort. The camp proved highly successful, with all young athletes demonstrating excellent, consistent progress throughout the programme.
A dedicated warm-up programme was implemented to develop running skills on the beach. The training focused on key Beach Sprint techniques, including boat entry, slalom row, return row, arrival and boat exit, with clear improvements observed across all participants. The swimming pool was also utilized to assess athletes’ swimming abilities and water confidence.
A strong spirit of solidarity and camaraderie prevailed throughout the camp. The Olympic Values were embraced by both athletes and coaches, fostering a positive environment that was fundamental in building strong relationships within the group.
Training included the use of three boat classes—1x, 2x, and 4x—with the 4x primarily used for higher-volume sessions at sea. The conditions at Punta Leona were exceptional, providing an outstanding setting for Beach Sprint development.
Beyond the training programme, the young athletes also enjoyed sharing their leisure time in the unique natural environment of Punta Leona Beach Resort. The exceptional setting enabled them to fully engage in the camp experience, in a manner comparable to an Olympic Village.
Moments of relaxation in a naturally preserved environment—where the protection of wildlife and flora is a core priority—contributed to making this camp a truly memorable and enriching experience for all participants.
At the conclusion of the camp, experienced Honduras National Coach Cristian Campos reflected on the learnings:
“These were unforgettable days, with an outstanding working methodology. Both coaches and athletes learned greatly and fully benefited from the methodological sessions delivered, both on land—particularly in athletic running technique—and through approach runs to the boats.”
