Cougars Take Gold at Pan American Games

College of Charleston rising junior sailor Irene Abascal won Gold in the Open Hobie 16 at the 2015 Pan American Games held on July 10-26, 2015, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

A business administration major at the College, Abascal medaled in the event with teammate Jason Hess Castillo. Her previous international sailing resume included a first-place finish in the Hobie 16 at the 2014 North American Sailing Championships and competition in the Lasers at the 2012 World Sailing Youth Championships.

Former College of Charleston sailor and two-time Olympian Juan Maegli also won Gold for Guatemala in the Men’s Laserat the Pan Am Games. He defeated an eight-man field also comprised of rising sophomore Stefano Peschiera (Lima, Peru), who placed eighth in the medal race.

Maegli, the 2013 College Sailor of the Year, was Guatemala’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. All three sailors are prepping for the 2016 Games to be held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.