Brazil sets the pace as São Paulo closes a standout Para judo weekend

São Paulo wrapped up a major Para judo weekend with the 2026 IBSA Judo Americas and Oceania Championships, following two days of action at the IBSA Judo Grand Prix São Paulo 2026. The final day shifted the focus from world-level Grand Prix competition to continental titles, and Brazil made that moment count on home tatami.

With a full team of 26 athletes, the host nation finished on top of the medal table with 11 continental gold medals. It was another strong statement after Brazil had already impressed during the Grand Prix, underlining its place among the leading nations in IBSA judo.

Still, this was not a one-team story. Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Australia each claimed a continental title, showing that the level across the Americas and Oceania continues to rise. In total, seven of the ten participating nations left with at least one medal, a clear sign that Para judo in the region is becoming more competitive and more widely balanced.

The event also reflected encouraging growth in participation. Athletes from 10 nations competed, with men and women represented in almost equal numbers. That balance mattered, because it pointed not only to depth in the field, but also to a healthier and more inclusive future for Para judo.

Brazil owned the medal table, but the whole region showed real momentum.

One of the strongest details from the championships came from the match statistics. A remarkable 97.5% of all contests were decided by a positive score, and 83.8% ended with Ippon. Those numbers say a lot about the character of Para judo at this level: athletes are pushing to win through attacking judo rather than waiting for penalties or managing the clock.

That attacking mindset helped give the championships a clear identity. The judo was dynamic, direct and true to the sport’s core values, with competitors consistently looking for decisive scores. For spectators, it meant an event full of action and very few passive moments.

Among the individual results, Eduardo GAUTO of Argentina won J1 Men -70 kg, while Jocelyn Atziri ORTIZ CARREON of Mexico took J1 Women -52 kg. Colombia celebrated gold through Eslendy Catalina D LAMADRID PENUELA in J2 Women -52 kg, and Australia reached the top of the podium with Taylor GOSENS in J2 Women -70 kg. Those victories mattered, especially in a championship where Brazil’s overall dominance could easily have overshadowed the progress of others.

Brazil’s own list of winners was extensive, including Danilo David GERONIMO SILVA, Arthur CAVALCANTE DA SILVA, Wilians DE ARAUJO, Thiego DA SILVA, Denis ROSA, Marcelo CASANOVA, Larissa SILVA, Brenda SOUZA DE FREITAS, Erika ZOAGA, Lucia ARAUJO and Rebeca SILVA. On home soil, they delivered the kind of performance that gave the crowd plenty to remember.

The numbers behind the event show a style built on scoring, not survival.

As the three-day programme came to an end, São Paulo left more than a medal table behind. The Grand Prix launched the qualification road to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, and the continental championships crowned new champions at the same time.

The event’s success also rested on the work beyond the contest area. Officials, referees, technical staff and volunteers helped ensure smooth delivery throughout the weekend, creating the conditions for athletes to perform at their best.

Now the Para judo calendar moves on, with the next stop set for Germany next month. São Paulo’s message was simple but powerful: Para judo is growing, the standard is rising, and the race toward Los Angeles 2028 is fully underway.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation