Jr. Pan American Games Sailing Team announced, set to compete in Paraguay this August

by US Sailing Team 7 Mar 23:37 GMT August 9-23, 2025

Four US athletes will take the water for the second ever Junior Pan American Games coming up August 9-23, 2025 in Asunción, Paraguay. To be eligible for this junior edition, competitors must be at least 17 years old and not more than 22 years old in the year of the Pan American Junior Games (year of birth 2003 - 2008, inclusive).

In a unique incentive for these Games, gold medalists at the Jr. Pan American Games will directly qualify for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, potentially giving countries an extra spot at the 2027 event.

Competing for Team USA:

• ILCA 6 - Isabella Mendoza Cabezas, Miami, FL
• ILCA 7 - Hamilton Barclay, Honolulu, HI
• iQFOiL Men - Makani Andrews, Kaneohe, HI
• iQFOiL Women - Danicka Sailer, Honolulu, HI

Sailing events will take place August 13-19, in Encarnación, Paraguay on the Paraná River, five hours away from the host city of Asunción. Joining sailing in Encarnación are open water swimming, triathlon, and mountain biking.

Andrews and Sailer qualified for the men's and women's windsurfing disciplines in Clearwater, FL at the 2025 iQFOiL Midwinters East Championship February 20-23, and Mendoza Cabezas and Barclay qualified for the ILCA 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg, FL at the 2025 ILCA Midwinters East Championship February 20-23 at St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Both venues displayed a range of conditions throughout the four days which tested a wide variety of athletes' skillsets and selected the strongest sailors from the fleets.

"We're really excited about this group that's qualified," said Rosie Chapman, Olympic Development Director and 2025 Jr. Pan Ams Team Leader. "This is their first opportunity to sail for Team USA in an official delegation event under the USOPC and we're confident we have a strong team representing the Stars and Stripes. There's a lot of hard work ahead over the next few months and we're excited to support them so they can give it their all on the water in Paraguay."

Visit this page for qualification details as set by Pan Am Sailing, and this page for US Sailing’s full athlete selection procedures.

Qualification for Lima 2027 Pan American Games

In Sailing, the gold medalists in individual events will qualify directly to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. Three (3) spots per gender (6 in total) will be allocated in these competitions. These places will be allocated to the athletes, not the country. If the athlete who earned the place cannot participate in the Lima 2027 Games, said place will be lost and may not be transferred to the country or to any other athlete in the corresponding event of the Asuncion 2025 Junior Pan American Games.

While the US fell short of gold medals in the inaugural event in Cali, Colombia in December 2021, it was a strong showing with Team USA taking home three medals in the four classes sailed. Charlotte Rose and Alex Temko received silver medals in the ILCA 6 and Men's iQFOiL, Bryn Muller took the bronze in the Women's iQFOiL, and Leo Boucher came in fifth in the ILCA 7. Revisit the full event recap here.