Santiago Lange: Against All Odds

Santiago Lange was not only the oldest sailor competing at Rio 2016, but he also competed without part of a lung following his fight against cancer. The emotional story of him beating cancer in the months prior to winning an Olympic gold medal is featured in a new episode of the Olympic Channel series, ‘Against All Odds‘.

Lange, 55, is a six-time Olympian born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is one of the most distinguished sailors in Argentine history and recognisable figures in the international sailing community.

Prior to Rio 2016 and while in pursuit of his lifelong dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, Lange was diagnosed with lung cancer. Just months after having surgery to remove a portion of his left lung, Lange and his crewmate Cecilia Carranza Saroli captured Olympic gold in the Nacra 17 class in an exciting finish and by just one point over the Australian team. He was later named 2016 World Sailor of the Year by World Sailing.

“The nine months following surgery until Rio required the greatest effort of my sporting career so far,” said Lange. “The medal race encapsulates in 20 minutes all that my life has been about. Adversities, and getting up and moving on.”

Lange began his life-long passion for the sport of sailing when he was six years old, taking after his father who was also a sailor and competed in the Olympic Games Helsinki 1952. Lange first represented his country in the Olympics at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988, and earned bronze medals at the Olympic Summer Games 2004 and 2008. He has passed on his love of the sport to his family and two of his children, sons Yago and Klaus, are also Olympians who competed at Rio 2016.

The journey behind athletes who embody the Olympic spirit are at the heart of the Olympic Channel’s documentary series Against All Odds presented by Bridgestone. Each episode is inspired by the story of an athlete who offers a first-person account of a key turning point in their life that demonstrates how personal will and determination helped them to overcome adversity and reach their goals.

The sixth instalment of the eight-episode series is now available worldwide on the Olympic Channel digital platform. Previous episodes of Against All Odds featuring the inspirational journeys of blind swimmer Enhamed Enhamed (ESP), bobsledder Bill Scheffenhauer (USA), rugby sevens’ Jerry Tuwai (FIJ), cross-country skier Petra Madjic (SLO) and weightlifter Óscar Figueroa (COL) are also available. Future episodes from the current season of Against All Odds will be announced in the coming months.

The Olympic Channel is a ground-breaking global platform where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, and is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

Source: World Sailing