LANGE Santiago Raul

General
OLYMPIC VETERAN
He is set to make his seventh Olympic appearance at the 2020 Games and will be hoping to win his fourth medal, having claimed gold in 2016 and bronze in both 2004 and 2008. "I absolutely love the Olympic experience. It's in my blood and it's in my heart. Rio 2016 was unforgettable, but it doesn't motivate me to talk not only about it, but also what will come. I am passionate about what we have to do today to get to Tokyo by being prepared well. We need to rebuild that hunger to win a medal. I don't know yet, but I am not closing the door [on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris]." (redbull.com, 06 Apr 2020; sailing.org, 15 Aug 2019; sailingscuttlebutt.com, 25 Jul 2019; tipandshaft.com, 25 Jul 2019; lanacion.com.ar, 24 Mar 2019; olympic.org, 21 Aug 2016)

PARTNERSHIP
In March 2014 he came out of retirement to start competing in the Nacra 17 class with Cecilia Carranza. "I retired from the Olympic Games. However, when Ceci came to me and sought advice on her Olympic career, I said to her, 'Why don't you sail with me?'. Everyone, including coaches and friends, told me that I was crazy, because at that time I was already big in the scene. However [at that time] I had retired but enjoyed what I did. I still enjoy the challenge of getting well prepared for the Olympic Games. While my body and my mind are available, I'm enjoying the journey and will continue to do it." (lanacion.com.ar, 24 Mar 2019; notiexpress.com.ar, 20 Sep 2014)

CANCER SURVIVOR
On 22 September 2015 [his 54th birthday] he had 80% of his left lung removed after he was diagnosed with cancer. The illness affected his training in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "It was a beautiful coincidence between operation and birth. I wanted to start a new life and turn the page. I was a healthy man. An athlete. I take care of myself. I eat well. I do not drink alcohol. I never smoked so, 'Why does this happen to me?!' I wondered. Then, cancer became a challenge, not a disease. I was in a storm in the middle of the sea and I couldn't get off the ship. A reality that had to be lived. The operation, somehow, motivated me to go to Rio de Janeiro. I was fortunate that the 2016 Olympics were held within a year. My mind wasn't caught by cancer or surgery, but I was looking forward to the competition." (redbull.com, 06 Apr 2020; lanacion.com.ar, 24 Mar 2019; santiagolange.com, 21 Nov 2018; ONS, 16 Aug 2016)

BUSINESS OWNER
He studied naval architecture at the University of Southampton in England, and worked with naval designer German Frers in Buenos Aires between 1983 and 1986. In 1986 he founded Empresa Lange Internacional, a company that designs boats to compete in a number of different classes. "I still do it whenever I have time. At the moment I am only focused on the Olympics and this." (tipandshaft.com, 25 Jul 2019; santiagolange.com, 21 Nov 2018; Facebook page, 01 Sep 2015)

He and Cecilia Carranza became the first sailors representing Argentina to win gold at the Olympic Games by claiming victory in the Nacra 17 class at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he also became the first Argentinian to compete in sailing at six editions of the Olympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Jan 2020; suramericanos.gob.ar, 08 Apr 2018)