Paraguay Wins Bronze at Copa América of Ice Stock

The Paraguayan men's national ice stock team secured a historic bronze medal at the X Copa América held in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. This accomplishment represents one of the most important international results for the sport in Paraguay, which is still developing in the country.

The tournament featured national teams from Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Paraguay, competing at the Centro Cultural 25 de Julho. After successfully navigating the qualifying rounds and advancing to the playoffs, the Paraguayan squad clinched the third position on the continental podium. The bronze medal-winning team included Junior Mongelós, Michael Rietzler, Joel Gómez, Luis Gómez, and Nivaldo Escurra, whose performance has placed Paraguayan sports on the international podium once again.

In the women's division, Paraguay was represented by Mercedes Mongelós, who also serves as the president of the national ice stock governing body, alongside Marta Osorio, Beatriz Ferreira, Antonia Ovelar, and Marina Caballero. The women's team entered the tournament with the notable achievement of having won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championship, solidifying their status among the continent's top teams.

Ice stock, known in Europe as Eisstockschießen, is a precision sport akin to curling. Traditionally played on ice, South American competitions utilize specially prepared synthetic surfaces, polished cement, or asphalt. The objective is to slide a weighted disk, called a 'stock,' as close as possible to a target disk, the 'daube.' Unlike curling, the target can be moved during play, adding a strategic layer. Teams can also knock opponents' stocks away from the scoring zone. Points are awarded based on the stock closest to the daube at the end of each round.