Four more places in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games sailing regatta were confirmed over the weekend (July 18-19) as racing at the Pan-American Games came to an end. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador secured slots in the Laser class, while Aruba and Uruguay won berths in the Laser Radial event.

The Pan-American Games in Toronto acted as the continental qualifiers for North and South America in the Laser class, which is contested by men, and in the women’s Laser Radial class. The best ranked sailor from each region – from a nation that had not already qualified – in each class in Canada would win a place in Brazil for their National Olympic Committee.

The Laser gold medal was won by Guatemala’s Juan Ignacio Maegli, with Brazil’s Robert Scheidt taking silver and Canadian Lee Parkhill claiming the bronze. However, as these nations were among those that already had Rio 2016 slots guaranteed, the Olympic places went to Trinidad and Tobago (Andrew Lewis finished seventh) and El Salvador (Enrique Arathoon Pacas came 11th).

The USA’s Paige Railey won the Laser Radial gold, but as the United States had already earned a Rio 2016 slot, the Olympic berths went to Uruguay, thanks to Dolores Moreira’s silver medal, and Aruba, whose Philipine Van Aanholt finished fourth, behind Brazil’s Fernanda Decnop.

Of the 46 places available on the Rio 2016 Laser start line, 35 are now accounted for. In the Laser Radial, 22 of the 37 spots have been taken. Host nation Brazil has a place guaranteed in each event. The rest of places will be decided at the continental qualification events for Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, as well as at the Laser Radial world championship, with two places in each event being awarded by invitation.

ISAF is organising continental qualification events for the first time in order to develop sailing around the world and reflect IOC principles, which aim to ensure the participation of the best athletes and representation from all continents.

Follow the race to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games here.

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.