Peru secured the bronze medal in the men’s team judo competition at the Pan American Senior Championships held in Panama City on April 21, 2026, defeating Mexico 4-3 in the bronze medal match.
The victory took place at the Convention Center of the luxury El Panamá hotel, where the Peruvian squad delivered a strong performance to close out their participation in the tournament. The win was confirmed by multiple Peruvian sports outlets, including Ovación and Perú Informa, which reported the narrow 4-3 triumph over Mexico in the team event.
Peru’s men’s team consisted of Franco Baltazar (-66 kg), Mateo Condor (-66 kg), Alonso Wong (-73 kg), Javier Saavedra (-81 kg), Yuta Galarreta (-90 kg), and Daryl Yamamoto (-100 kg). On the women’s side, the team included Carla Patricia León (-48 kg), Driulys Rivas (-52 kg), Brillith Gamarra (-52 kg), Marian Flores (-57 kg), Hilary Lam (-57 kg), Xsara Morales Falconí (-70 kg), and Camila Figueroa (-78 kg).
The achievement was highlighted by María Martínez Murciego, President of the Peruvian Sports Judo Federation, who praised the team’s effort and emphasized the importance of the result for Peru’s Olympic qualifying path toward Los Angeles 2028.
“With a solid foundation and international projection, Peru continues to consolidate itself in continental judo and confirms the work of the Federation and the effort and talent of our athletes,” Martínez said following the medal match. “This Pan American Championship in Panama also adds points toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. I congratulate all the judokas because this achievement is teamwork, and that is valuable.”
The victory over Mexico came after a tightly contested match that saw Peru edge out their rivals by a single bout, showcasing resilience and depth across weight classes. The result marked a successful conclusion to Peru’s participation in the senior division of the Pan American Championships, reinforcing the nation’s growing competitiveness on the international stage.
Martínez also noted the presence of Kimberlie Rivera, Sports Director of the South American and Pan American Judo Confederation and International Technical Delegate for Judo at the 2026 South American Youth Games in Panama, during the awarding ceremony, underscoring the continental significance of the event.
The bronze medal adds to Peru’s growing tally in regional competitions and reflects sustained investment in judo development under Martínez’s leadership. The Federation has prioritized athlete preparation and international exposure as key pillars of its strategy.
With the Pan American Senior Championships now complete, Peru’s judo team will shift focus to upcoming continental qualifiers and preparation cycles for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where every point earned in events like this one contributes directly to Olympic seeding and qualification prospects.
The success in Panama serves as a benchmark for future performances and validates the Federation’s long-term approach to building a competitive national program capable of medaling at elite levels.
As the team regroups, athletes and coaches will review performance data from the tournament to identify areas for refinement ahead of the next phase of international competition.
For continued updates on Peru’s judo program and its path toward Los Angeles 2028, follow official announcements from the Peruvian Sports Judo Federation and trusted sports news sources covering Pan American and Olympic qualifying events.
