The Colombia judo delegation secured a third-place finish in the general medal standings at the San Salvador Panamerican Open 2026, according to official tournament reports. Competing in El Salvador’s capital against a field of 141 athletes from 16 countries, the eight-member Colombian team collected five medals, featuring two golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
How Colombia Secured the Third-Place Finish in San Salvador
The two-day continental tournament gathered 89 male and 52 female judokas at the venue in San Salvador. According to competition records, Brazil finished first in the team standings, while the Dominican Republic claimed the runner-up spot.
Colombia’s delegation represented a nation of over 50 million people and featured national team athletes across both men’s and women’s brackets.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze: Breakdown of Colombia’s Medallists
Colombia’s golden success was spearheaded by Ferney Ruiz Mesa and Cindy Mera. According to tournament results, Ruiz Mesa claimed the top step of the podium in the men’s -73 kilogram category, while Mera secured the gold medal in the women’s -63 kilogram division.
Erika Lasso finished as the runner-up in the women’s -48 kilogram category, and Jhon Caicedo claimed silver in the men’s -90 kilogram division. Meanwhile, Brigitte Carabalí captured a bronze medal in the women’s +78 kilogram class to round out the podium finishes.
Other notable performances included John Pérez Ruiz, who secured a fifth-place finish in the men’s -81 kilogram division. The full eight-athlete Colombian roster in San Salvador also featured Jerónimo Pino Balbín in the -66 kilogram category and Wendy Golú in the -52 kilogram division.
Next Stop: South American Games in Argentina
Following the successful campaign in Central America, the Colombian judo squad turns its focus toward the upcoming international calendar. According to sports federation schedules, the next major challenge for the team will be the South American Games 2026, scheduled to take place from September 12 to September 26 in Santa Fe, Argentina.
The roster selected for the upcoming Games in Argentina features a broader lineup of 11 competitors. Ferney Ruiz, Brigitte Carabalí, Brenda Olaya, Wendy Golú, Jhon Caicedo, John Pérez, Francisco Balanta, Jerónimo Pino, Erika Lasso, Edwin Gómez, and Gerardo Restrepo will represent the country as the sport builds toward the latter half of the international season.
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