OZANI LAFOND TAKES 4TH PLACE IN JR. PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Wednesday 20th August 2025
Encarnacion, Paraguay — August 18, 2025 — The Jr. Pan American Games sailing event in the ILCA Mens dinghy concluded with a highly competitive series.
The fleet of 19 youth sailors from multiple countries, spanning the Americas, delivered a week of high drama on the water. The regatta featured a mix of light to moderate wind conditions, testing the sailors’ tactical acumen, starts, and boat handling under shifting breezes along the Paraguayan River.
Ozani Lafond, representing Antigua & Barbuda, initially stood tied for bronze after the last race. With a dramatic 5th race that reshaped the final standings with 2 points between three sailors for silver or bronze, sailors traded podium position momentum, keeping the competition tight and the coaches on edge.
With five races completed and one discard allowed, the tie-breaking international rules apply, calculated using the best consistent results across 4 races, including top finishes, and the overall points. Sailors who could demonstrate greater consistency and the lowest finishes across the series are favoured by the rule. Ultimately, Ozani placed just outside the bronze medal position, securing 4th place in the final tally.
The ultimate takeaway from this event underscores the importance of consistency in boat handling and tactical strategy in order to come out on top when competition is close.
Here are the podium final standings:
1st: United States 5 points
2nd: Bermuda 5,2,11,1,3 total 22 Net 11points
3rd: Brazil score 4,11,2,2 ,7 Total 26 Net 15points
4th: Antigua ( Ozani Lafond ) 8,3,3,4,5 Total 23 Net 15 points
Karl James MBE, OLY, President and Head Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association, congratulates Ozani on his achievements, emphasizing the learnings from the event: “This is a milestone experience for a young sailor. Finishing just shy of the podium motivates continued development. "I am extremely proud of how Ozani navigated the regatta and earned a well-deserved 4th place.”
This event also highlighted the depth of junior sailing talent in Antigua and Barbuda. With the 2025 Jr. Pan Am Games now complete, we will regroup for upcoming regional and global events. The countback-driven outcome for Ozani serves as a reminder that in sailing, the margins between podium and near-podium are incredibly tiny, and every race decision matters. This experience will be used to sharpen focus on consistency, race tactics, and mental preparation for the upcoming circuit of regattas this year.
