In the female Americas New Flag race, it could be a repeat scenario from the Tokyo Olympic Games. In 2021, Romina Biagioli of Argentina earned the Americas New Flag slot. Looking ahead to 2024, she is in pole position to claim it again.
As an aside, Felix Duchampt is in the same boat with respect to the European men’s New Flag place.
To earn a New Flag place, an individual must be the highest ranked athlete from their continent and race for a country that has not already qualified an athlete of the same gender to Paris. Moreover, they must be inside the top-180 of the world rankings.
Biagioli is ranked 68th in the world with 1697 points. A 3rd place finish at the Americas Sprint Championships has handed her a considerable boost over her rivals while her win at the Americas Cup in Villarrica likewise cultivated her lead in the New Flag race.
Being ranked so close the top-60 in the world, Biagioli could conceivably make it onto WTCS start lists with only a minor improvement in her world ranking. She last appeared in the Series in 2015 and a return could offer the chance to settle the Americas New Flag question once and for all.
A key point to note is that Biagioli currently only has two scores in her “previous” period. She will therefore be in a position to add points to her total simply through the passage of time. Of course, the “current” scores that become “previous” ones will need to be replaced. If Biagioli can log further good finishes in early 2024, though, the “previous” factor will offer a boost to her points total.
Right now, Raquel Solis Guerrero of Costa Rica is the closest challenger to Biagioli in 98th place. Bronze medals at the Americas Cups in Chinchiná and Vina del Mar have kept Solis’ quest alive. With 1370 points she has a little over 300 points to make up to Biagioli. While a stern task, it is not necessarily out of reach.
Similarly positioned is Leslie Amat Alvarez of Cuba. Amat stands 104th in the world rankings with 1292 points. A silver medal at the Vina del Mar Americas Cup put her ahead of Solis and she added a bronze medal at the Salinas Americas Cup earlier in 2023.
To catch Biagioli, Amat will need further Americas Cup medals in early 2024. She has proven herself as being capable of making it onto the podium. To go to Paris, though, she will need to make it happen on a regular basis.
Macarena Salazar of Chile then follows (ranked 111th) with 1228 points while Biagioli’s compatriot Moira Miranda stands in 114th place with 1212 points.
Plenty of contenders, then, are gathered behind Romina Biagioli in the Americas New Flag race to the Olympic Games. One issue may be that with several hopefuls all hunting the same points, they could get in one another’s way. To close the gap to Biagioli, one of the above athletes will need consistent podium finishes. If each candidate can get onto the podium, though, that will be easier said than done.
