Brazil Wins 22 Gold Medals and Dominates the South-American Cadet and Junior Championships

Brazil wins 22 gold medals in the South-American Cadet and Junior Championships These two competitions from Buenos Aires brought Brazil also six silver and four bronze medals

Brazil has resumed the leading role in the South-American Cadet and Junior Championships. After its low performance from 2012, the Brazilian Team shone this year in Cadet and Junior Competitions, gold glinting. There were 22 gold medals, six silvers and four bronzes. The second-placed, Colombia, was far behind us: they had won only four gold medals, five silvers and eight bronzes. Ecuador was third-placed, after winning four golds, five silvers and only five bronzes. Argentina, the host country, was in fifth place - after Venezuela – having no gold medal.

\"We believe it is important that we have reached our goal regarding these competitions:  be a general champion, Cadet and Junior, men’s and women’s team as well. I think this is a result of the new criterion in choosing Brazil’s representatives. The junior and cadet national ranking and  a convention with the Ministry of Sport enabled the best athletes to always train and improve their techniques in international training camps.“ Kenji Saito, the Performance Director of Cadet and Junior Teams, stated.

The list of medal-awarded judokas shows how top athletes are spread across all country: thirteen Brazilian states went on the podium in the South-American competition. In the Cadet competition, the champions were Bruna Silva (SP), Carollynne Hernandes (RS), Yasmin Fernandes (SP), Ana Paula Prates (MS), Karoline Barbeirotti (SP), Ellen Furtado (SP), Nykson Carneiro (SP), Lélio Puggina Junior (MG), João Falqueto (ES), Clóvis Braga Junior (RS) and Matheus Rocha (SP). Victória Tiburcio (RJ), Renata Silva (GO) and Marcelo Braga Junior (RS) got the silver whereas Gustavo Cação (RS) and Conrado Oliveira (PR) the bronze.

\"For Mato Grosso do Sul this is a breakthrough because it was believed that judo was practiced only in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul.  But everyone can compete well, starting from Amazon to Mato Grosso do Sul. I think that\'s pretty good. It is proof that judo is actually spreading throughout the four corners of Brazil, \"said Ana Paula Prates, the athlete from Mato Grosso do Sul.

In the Junior competitions, the Gold medals were won by Rita Reis (AM), Flávia Gomes (SP), Erika Ferreira (EC), Isadora Pereira (MG), Sibilla Facholli (SP), Vitor Torrente (SP), Gabriel Pinheiro (PE), Caio Bridget (SP), Thiago Chiodi (SP), Luis das Virgens (BA) and Delan Monte (PB). The vice-champions were Rafaela Barbosa (AM), Camila Barreto (RS) and Victor Silva (SP). Gabriela Chibana (SP) and José Vicente Souza (ES) were in third place and Agatha Pascoalino (SP) in fifth.

\"The judo used to be very concentrated and so limited to a few states. BJC’s investment in searching for the best athletes throughout Brazil is very important. It is a fruitful work.\" Camila Barreto (RS) said.

“It was very difficult at first because I had never competed in the South American. The first fight was more complicated because I faced the last year’s winner (the Colombian judoka Eblin Lucumbi). I had to work hard to be able to enter the game, I listened the coaches and, thank God, everything went well. I am very happy that my state was represented by two athletes in the South-American Championship and that it won a gold medal and a silver one.\" said Rita Reis from Amazon.

The list of medal-awarded athletes in the South-American Cadet Championships:

Gold
44kg: Bruna Silva (SP)
48kg: Carollynne Hernandes (RS)
52kg: Yasmin Fernandes (SP)
57kg: Ana Paula Prates (MS)
63kg: Karoline Barbeirotti (SP)
+70kg: Ellen Furtado (SP)
55kg: Nykson Carneiro (SP)
66kg: Lélio Puggina Junior (MG)
73kg: João Falqueto (ES)
90kg: Clóvis Braga Júnior (RS)
+90kg: Matheus Rocha (SP)

Silver
40kg: Victória Tibúrcio (RJ)
70kg: Renata Silva (GO)
50kg: Marcelo Braga Junior (RS)

Bronze
60kg: Gustavo Cação (RS)
81kg: Conrado Oliveira (PR)


The list of medal-awarded athletes in the South-American Junior Championships

Gold
44kg: Rita Reis (AM)
57kg: Flávia Gomes (SP)
63kg: Érika Ferreira (CE))
78kg: Isadora Pereira (MG)
+78kg: Sibilla Facholli (SP)
55kg: Vitor Torrente (SP)
66kg: Gabriel Pinheiro (PE)
73kg: Caio Brígida (SP)
81kg: Thiago Chiodi (SP)
90kg: Luis das Virgens (BA)
100kg: Delan Monte (PB)

Silver
52kg: Rafaela Barbosa (AM)
57kg: Camila Barreto (RS)
+100kg: Victor Silva (SP)

Bronze
48kg: Gabriela Chibana (SP)
60kg: José Vicente Souza (ES)

Fifth Place
70kg: Ágatha Pascoalino (SP)