Judo: Brazil takes 16 podiums, 7 of them gold, in Pan-American Championships in RJ

Brazilian judo ended the Pan-American and Oceania Championships in Rio de Janeiro with the best continental mixed team and at the top of the medal table. Less than three months before the start of the Paris Olympic Games, the country secured 16 podiums, seven of them with gold medals – the last achieved on Sunday (28), after victory against Cuba in the mixed team competition. The competition at Arena Carioca 1, in the Olympic Park, brought together 480 athletes from 30 countries.

“We think and are focused on qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games, but we have established a strategy of composing the team with young athletes already thinking about the future. This opportunity to film and experience the energy within an important event like the Pan American Championship is important for this. They accomplished their mission and were not intimidated”, praised Marcelo Theotonio, high performance manager at the Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ).

The Brazilian mixed team was champion with Vinicius Ardina and Michael Marcelino (73kg), Shirlen Nascimento (57kg), Giovanna Santos (+78kg) and Marcelo Gomes (90kg).

In addition to the team gold, there were six more golden podiums in individual competitions, obtained by Michel Augusto (60 kg category), Larissa Pimenta (52 kg), Willian Lima (66 kg), Rafaela Silva (57 kg), Beatriz Souza (78 kg) and Guilherme Schmidt (81 kg). With the exception of Michel Augustos, everyone else is on the first list of those called up for Paris 2024, announced by the CBJ, on the 4th.

Judokas Daniel Cargnin (73 kg) and Rafael Silva “Baby” (100 kg) – both guaranteed in Paris – and Nauana Silva (63 kg) reached the finals worth gold, but were surpassed and ended up with silver.

The Brazilians Amanda Lima (48 kg), Ketleyn Quadros (63 kg), Luana Carvalho (70 kg), Rafael Buzacarini (100 kg), Rafael Macedo (90 kg) and Leonardo Gonçalves (100 kg) won the bronze medal match. – these last two will also go to Paris.

Paris Olympics

On the 4th, the CBJ announced the first 10 judokas who will represent Brazil in Paris 2024. The second and final list of classifieds will be published at the end of June, after the Olympic rankings of the International Judo Federation (IJF) are finalized.

Judo is the sport that has secured the most Olympic podiums for Brazil in history: there are 24 medals. The Olympics will bring together a total of 372 athletes, equally divided between men and women). The top 17 in the rankings in each category secure a place in Paris 2024 (with a limit of one judoka per country). From 18th place in the ranking, vacancies will be distributed by continent: Americas (21 vacancies), Africa (24), Europe (25), Asia (20) and Oceania (10).