Beatriz Souza and Guilherme Schmidt win gold at the Pan-American Judo Championships | judo

Brazil is collecting medals in the Pan-American and Oceania Judo Championships, a competition being held in Rio de Janeiro. This Saturday, for the second day of the finals, the country won gold in two of the three finals it played. Guilherme Schmidt and Beatriz Souza took the highest place on the podium. With their victories, the judokas gained even more points in the international rankings, despite already being qualified for Paris. In addition to them, Luana Carvalho, Rafael Macedo, Leonardo Gonçalves and Rafael Buzacarini took bronze. Rafael “Baby” Silva also went to the final, but took silver.

Guilherme Schmidt wins gold at the Pan-American Judo Championships

Guilherme Schmidt was the first Brazilian to compete in the final this Saturday. In the up to 81 kg category, Guilherme submitted Canadian Francois Drapeau with the right to ippon, the maximum score in judo. In the same category, Gabriel Falcão faced Adrian Gandia in search of bronze, but was unable to defeat the Puerto Rican.

In the finals of the category over 78 kg, Beatriz Souza beat Canadian Ana Laura Portuondo and added another gold for Brazil. The Brazilian submitted her opponent with an ippon in just twenty seconds of fighting.

— We work every day to fight like this. It’s important because it shows that our work is being done very well, everything is very well planned. I’m on the right path and confident. Today is the most fun day for me. I’d rather compete than train. I do this here, my amusement park — said Bia after the victory.

Olympic medalist Rafael Silva, known as Baby, also competed in a final this Saturday. Promising a medal in Paris, Baby was the last to enter the mat, but was unable to finish against Cuban Andy Granda, in the over 100 kg category. The fight against the Pan-American champion was not easy. Baby tried to dominate by the collars and tried to apply some decisive blows during the dispute, but the Cuban sought the reaction and took the gold.

Right after Guilherme Schimidt’s fight, Luana Carvalho from Rio entered the mat in the fight for bronze. Luana got the better of her wingspan against Venezuelan Elvismar Rodriguez and came in third place in the -70 kg category. The medal is important for the Brazilian, who is still looking for a place in Paris. In the same category, Ellen Froner also tried for bronze, but lost to Celinda Corozo, from Ecuador.

The last chance to get a place in the Olympics is the Judo World Cup, which will be between May 19th and 24th. Brazil is still trying to guarantee itself in four categories: three in the women’s category (-48 kg, -63 kg and -70 kg) and one in the men’s category (-60 kg).

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The second bronze of the day went to Rafael Macedo, who competed in the -90 kg category. Rafael beat Canadian Louis Krieber Gagnon. In another men’s category, the -100kg, Brazil received double medals. In the two disputes for bronze, Leonardo Gonçalves and Rafael Buzacarini came out on top. Leonardo defeated Cuban Liester Cardona, while Buzacarini submitted Chilean Thomas Briceno within minutes of the fight.

The Pan-American competition ends on Sunday (28), with the mixed team fights. Representing Brazil on the last day of competition: Rafaela Silva, Shirlen Nascimento, Ellen Froner, Luana Carvalho, Beatriz Souza, Giovanna Santos, Daniel Cargnin, Vinícius Ardina, Marcelo Gomes, Rafael Macedo, Rafael Silva and Juscelino Nasciment Jr. The competition takes place at Arena Carioca 1, in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Park, and has free entry.