Peru’s judo delegation secured five medals—two silver and three bronze—at the Open Panamericano de Judo Lima 2026. Hosted at the VIDENA-IPD sports complex, the international competition brought together 200 athletes representing 39 countries, concluding a busy multi-week schedule overseen by the Federación Deportiva Peruana de Judo.
Silver Success on Home Soil
The host nation’s silver medals came from Driulys Rivas in the -52 kg division and Alonso Wong in the -73 kg category.
Rivas added the Open silver to her prior bronze medal performance from the Grand Prix de Judo Lima 2026. Wong claimed his silver medal during a successful return to the national competitive squad.
Rounding Out the Podium
Three bronze medals rounded out Peru’s podium finishes at the venue.
Mateo Cóndor earned third place in the -66 kg division. Yuta Galarreta claimed bronze in the -90 kg category, while Hilary Lam secured her -57 kg bronze following a late-match surge in the final seconds of her bout.
Leadership and International Gold
The closing ceremony and medal presentations took place in the presence of newly appointed Instituto Peruano del Deporte (IPD) president Óscar Fernández. Tournament administration was led by María Martínez Murciego, president of the Federación Deportiva Peruana de Judo, which managed a series of events throughout August including youth tournaments, leadership programs, and the preceding Grand Prix.
International competitors also claimed top honors across various divisions. Gold medalists included Colombia’s Ferneyh Ruiz Laso in the -73 kg class, Dominic Rodriguez of the United States in the -81 kg category, Croatia’s Tiheai Topolovec in the -52 kg division, and France’s A. Neto in the -57 kg class. Additional gold medals went to Argentina’s Galo Villavicencio in the -60 kg division, Ecuador’s Benavides in the -66 kg category, and Colombia’s Erika Lazo in the -48 kg weight class.
Tactical Edge and Future Bouts
Reflecting on her performance across the Lima tour, Rivas highlighted the impact of Cuban champion Onix Cortés joining the work of the Peruvian team. Rivas stated that working alongside Cortés adds necessary tactical aggression and edge to international bouts. She also noted her ambition to qualify for the Olympic Games, describing the emotional significance of competing on home soil.
Meanwhile, Alonso Wong addressed his return to the national team by pointing toward future international competition. Wong identified his loss in Lima as a winnable fight and noted that he anticipates a rematch against his Colombian opponent during the upcoming Juegos ODESUR.
