The Brazilian Judo Delegation Came Home with 13 Medals
The team has arrived in Toronto this Thursday morning. Its members’ next challenge will be the World Judo Championship of Astana in August.
The Brazilian delegation judo has got home this Thursday morning, July 16th, at Guarulhos International Airport located in Sao Paulo, after a successful campaign at the Pan American Games 2015. They brought 13 medals, namely five gold, two silver and six bronze. This performance put the country in the first place of the overall judo chart, ahead of Cuba, who was second with two gold medals less than Brazil.
"It was a big challenge winning 14 medals since we won 13 of them a long time ago. We evolved in comparison with our main opponent, who is Cuba. Two gold medals is a good difference. Last time, we were ahead of them thanks to a bronze award, "said Ney Wilson, the head of the delegation and the Performance Director of the Brazilian Judo Confederation.
Twice Pan-American champion with gold medals in 2015 and 2011, and a bronze in 2007, the half-heavyweight Luciano Correa has also positively evaluated the performance of the Brazilian judo in the continental competition and reminded that all athletes reached the fights for medals.
"For me it was an excellent result. I think we have evolved, but the other countries within the region have also improved. We managed to fight for medals in all categories, " summarized the judoka who dedicated his gold to his companion Alex Pombo (73kg). The day before Lucian’s fight, Pombo was injured during the bronze contention and ended up in fifth place.
The next challenge of the Brazilian national judo is already this weekend: the Grand Slam of Tyumen, an important competition in which the champion scores 500 points in the world ranking. But this contest will not have athletes who fought in Toronto. These ones go to Brazil and gather again on 12th August, when they board for acclimatization in Paris for the World Judo Championship Astana / KAZ.
