Brazil Scores Two Golds, One Silver and Three Bronze Medals at the Santiago Pan American Open

Diego Santos (60kg) and João Pedro Macedo (73kg) were gold awarded. Daniel Santos (66kg) silver. Phelipe Pelim (60kg), Vinicius Sakamoto (66kg) and Thelma Martelotta (66kg) got the bronze.

On the first day of the Santiago Pan American Open, Brazil won five medals. The two  gold came from Diego Santos (60kg) and João Pedro Macedo (73kg). Daniel Santos (66kg) won the silver. Phelipe Pelim (60kg), Vinicius Sakamoto (66kg) and Thelmo Martelotta (66kg) got the bronze. Tomorrow the mats  will be stepped on  by Vinicius Panini (81kg), Henrique Silva (90kg), Horácio Antunes (100kg), João Gabriel Schlittler (100kg), Dione Barbosa (63kg) and Melina Scárdua (78kg).

Diego Santos defeated three opponents before bringing home the gold medal, namely two Argentinians in the qualifiers, Gabriel Sabatino and Hernan Birbrier, and an American, Aaron Kunihiro, in the final. The Brazilian was delighted with his achievement. "I had three matches in which even if I knew my opponents, I had to keep focused and fight until the end," the judoka said and added. "I'm very happy with today's result. I'm sure I have much to improve, but I'm on the right track! Thanks to all the fans and their positive thoughts."

The same weight as Diego Santos’s, Phelipe Pelim won the bronze medal. The athlete had been defeated by the category’s finalist, in the qualifiers. However, he pulled himself in the repechage and managed thus to reach the third place.

João Pedro Macedo made ​​four combats. He left behind the Chilean Gustavo Miranda, the American Everet Desilets and the Canadian Alexis Morin-Martel, in the first round of the competition. In the final he defeated another Canadian judoka, Arthur Margelidon, by wazari.

In the extra-light category (66kg) the podium was full of Brazilians. Daniel Santos took the silver after being defeated by the Canadian Patrick Gagne in the final. Vinicius Sakamoto and Thelm Martelotta were bronze awarded after the victory over the Mexican Jesus Chaparro and the Canadian Simon Gardreault, respectively.

Martelotta Thelma, who turns 20 today, said the third place was his birthday gift. "I was very happy because it was my first international competition as Senior! And besides, it was my birthday! " the athlete said.

Milena Mendes (52kg), Rodrigo Lopes (60kg), Gabriel Mendes (73kg), Leandro Cunha (73kg) and Yuri Takabatake (73kg) also entered the mats today, but they could not reach the podium.