Las Leonas

Field_hockey_team
teamname = Argentina


imagesize = 125px
union = Argentine Hockey Confederation
("Confederación Argentina de
Hockey")
fullname = Argentina's national women's
field hockey team
nickname = "Las Leonas" (The Lionesses)
founded =
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chairman =
ceo =
captain =
coach = Gabriel Minadeo (since 2004)
top scorer = Vanina Oneto (148)
caps =
url =
league =
rank = 2nd
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Las Leonas are Argentina's national women's field hockey team. They have achieved a total of six World Hockey Cup medals, three Olympic medals, five Champions Trophy medals, and six Pan American medals. Their nickname translates literally as "The Lionesses", but they are known worldwide as "Las Leonas".

History

Hockey was introduced in Argentina by English immigrants in the beginning of the 20th century, and the first women's teams were officially formed in 1909. In 1997, Sergio Vigil, a former player for the men's national team, was appointed coach. Under his leadership, "Las Leonas" achieved their first World Hockey Cup title, their first Olympic medals, their first Champions Trophy medals, and many other achievements. The team went from having a rather limited audience to becoming a national sensation, with some of the players even appearing as models in advertising campaigns.

Nickname origin

Throughout its history, the team has developed a reputation for being tenacious even when a match appears to be lost. For this reason, a lioness was chosen as their symbol when the team qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics. During the second round of games, Argentina played against the powerful Dutch team, and they chose this occasion to place the image of a lioness on their shirts for the first time. Argentina won that match, went on to win the silver medal, and "Las Leonas" were born. The name also falls in line with an unwritten Argentine tradition of naming national teams after big cats: the men's rugby union team is called "Los Pumas" ("The Pumas"), and the women's volleyball team is known as "Las Panteras" ("The Panthers").

Tournament records

World Cup

"Note: there was no women's field hockey competition at the Pan American Games before 1987."

Junior team

The junior (under 21) team, aptly named "Las Leoncitas" ("The Baby Lionesses" or "The Lioness Cubs"), has also been successful, winning a total of three World Cup medals and five Pan American medals.

Tournament records

World Cup

Pan American Championships

See also

* Argentina men's national field hockey team

External links

*es icon [http://www.cahockey.org.ar Confederación Argentina de Hockey] Official site of the Argentine Hockey Confederation