Jairo Moreno, a rising judoka from Colombia’s Programa Esfuerzo y Gloria, saw his tournament run end in the repechage round after a narrow loss to Mexico’s Arath Juárez in the second round of competition. The bout, held at the Pan American Judo Open in Guadalajara, Mexico, marked Moreno’s first appearance at a senior-level international event outside South America.
Moreno entered the competition as a promising prospect from Colombia’s state-backed athlete development program, which has produced several continental medalists in recent years. Juárez, a two-time Pan American medalist competing in the men’s 73kg division, secured a waza-ari score with 1:45 remaining in the match, a lead Moreno could not overcome despite sustained pressure in the final minute.
The loss sent Moreno into the repechage bracket, where he faced Cuba’s Luis González in a must-win bout to keep alive his hopes of a bronze medal. González, a 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalist, controlled the grips throughout the contest and earned a yuko score midway through the match. Moreno failed to score, resulting in a shido penalty for passivity with 45 seconds left, sealing his elimination.
“I came here to test myself against the best in the Americas, and I learned a lot,” Moreno said in a post-match interview with the Colombian Judo Federation. “Juárez was strong and smart — he made me work for every inch. I’ll seize this experience back to Bogotá and keep improving.”
The Programa Esfuerzo y Gloria, launched in 2020 by Colombia’s Ministry of Sports, identifies and supports high-potential athletes in Olympic disciplines with funding, coaching, and sports science support. Moreno, 21, has been part of the program since 2022 and previously won gold at the 2023 Bolivarian Games in the 73kg category.
Juárez advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Brazil’s Daniel Cargnin, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, via ippon. Cargnin went on to win the silver medal, while Japan’s Hifumi Abe captured gold in the division.
The Pan American Judo Open served as a key tuning event for athletes preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers. Over 300 competitors from 25 nations participated, with matches streamed live on the International Judo Federation’s YouTube channel and official app.
Moreno’s performance drew attention from regional scouts, with several coaches noting his improved transition game and resilience under pressure. His next scheduled competition is the South American Championships in Asunción, Paraguay, in May, where he will aim to defend his continental title.
For updates on Moreno’s training and upcoming events, follow the official channels of the Colombian Judo Federation and Programa Esfuerzo y Gloria.
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