Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

Sunday, May 30, 2021 - 03:22 By Taylor Miller

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) took out U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN) twice on Saturday to win the gold medal at 57kg at the 2021 Pan American Championships.

Earlier in the day, Rodrigues pinned Town in the first period, and in the final, the Brazilian repeated her effort with another fall, this time in the second period for her second-consecutive Pan American title. For her performance, Rodrigues earned the Golden Boot as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Five wrestlers from the United States won titles in women’s freestyle on Saturday, including five-time World champion Adeline GRAY (USA), 2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), 2018 World silver medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), Olympian Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and Cadet World champion Ronna HEATON (USA).

Competing at 76kg, Gray, who will wrestle in her second Olympic Games later this year, claimed four wins on the day. In her final bout of the competition, Gray took on 2014 World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), whom she defeated 8-0. The win marks her fourth Pan American gold medal. She won three at the Championships and one at the Pan Am Games in 2015.

Mensah-Stock didn’t spend much time on the mat en route to her winning the 68kg crown for the fourth-straight time. In the gold-medal match, Mensah-Stock took out two-time Pan Am finalist Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) claimed the 50kg with a 10-0 shutout over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Olympian Sarah Hildebrandt handling captured the crown at 50kg. To take gold, she downed 2020 Pan Am bronze medalist and past Junior Pan Am champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) with a 10-0 victory. This is Hildebrandt’s sixth-overall continental gold medal.

Miracle, a U23 World silver medalist, dominated 2019 Pan American champion Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, recording her second win of the day over the Brazilian. Earlier in the day, Miracle won 10-0 to start her tournament. She adds to her 2019 Pan Am Games title.

Taking the crown at 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) defeated 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU). Earlier in the tournament, Valverde won 10-0 over the American, but in their second matchup, Heaton was able to turn the tables in her favor, 9-6.

In a special and emotional moment during women’s freestyle competition, longtime Argentinian representative and four-time Pan American medalist Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) retired from competition after winning bronze at 68kg.

In the team race, USA won with 240 points. Taking second was Brazil with 144 points, and rounding out the top-three was Canada with 115 points.

Nathan JACKSON (USA) was one of two USA freestylers who were crowned champions on Saturday. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Alongside the six women’s freestyle weights, two men’s freestyle weights were contested on Saturday, 79kg and 92kg, both of which the USA won.

Thomas GANTT (USA) earned the gold at 79kg, defeating Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) with an 8-0 win in the finals. Overall, he won four matches on the day, including three by technical superiorities.

In his Pan American debut, Nathan JACKSON (USA) collected the gold medal in round-robin action at 92kg. In his last bout, Jackson defeated Jeremy POIRIER (CAN) with an impressive 10-0 first-period performance.

The competition continues Sunday with the final eight weight classes in men’s freestyle. Action begins at 12 p.m. ET live on uww.org.

En Espanol

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) derrotó a la campeona mundial U23 Alexandria TOWN (CAN) dos veces para ganar la medalla de oro en 57kg en el campeonato panamericano en la Ciudad de Guatemala el sábado.

Más temprano en el día, Rodrigues venció a Town por puesta espalda en el primer periodo, compitiendo en una competencia en estilo Nordic. En el final, Rodrigues ganó otra vez por puesta espalda en 4:23. Es su segundo título panamericano consecutivo. Gracias a su gran día, Rodrigues recibió el botín de oro.

Cinco estadounidenses reclamó títulos en estilo libre femenino, incluyendo cinco veces campeona mundial Adeline GRAY (USA), campeona mundial 2019 Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), medallista mundial 2018 Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), olímpica Kayla MIRACLE (USA) y campeona mundial cadete Ronna HEATON (USA).

Compitiendo en la categoría 76kg, Gray, una dos veces olímpica, emergió victoriosa en cuatro combates. En el final, se enfrentó a medallista de plata mundial 2014 Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA). Gray dominó por 8-0. Es su cuarta medalla de oro panamericana. Ganó los campeonatos panamericanos en 2018 y 2019, y también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Toronto en 2015.

Mensah-Stock no estaba en el colchón por mucho tiempo hoy. Ella triunfó en los tres combates en 68kg por la corona. En la final, Mensah-Stock derrotó a Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), una dos veces finalista panamericana, con un 10-4 victoria. El oro marca su cuarto título panamericano consecutivo.

Hildebrandt, olímpica, dominó a la categoría 50kg. En el final, venció a Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), una medallista de bronce panamericana 2020, con una puntuación 10-0. Es su sexto medalla de oro panamericano.

En el final en la categoría 62kg, olímpica Miracle, una medallista de plata mundial U23, dominó a la campeona panamericana 2019 Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, por la segunda vez hoy para ganar su segunda oro panamericano. Esta mañana, Miracle abrió su torneo contra Nunes y ganó 10-0. Ella también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Lima en 2019.

En la categoría 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) superó contra medallista mundial juvenil Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) en el final, vengando una pérdida de Valverde, 10-0, más temprano en el día. Heaton estaba perdiendo 6-0 pero anotó nueve puntos para ganar el oro, 9-6.

En un momento muy especial durante la competencia de estilo libre femenino, la representante argentina y cuatro veces medallista panamericana Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) se retiró de la competencia después de ganar el bronce en 68kg.

USA capturó el título del equipo con 240 puntos. Ganando la plata fue Brasil con 144 puntos, y en el tercer lugar fue Canadá con 115 puntos.

Además de las seis categorías de estilo libre femenino el sábado, se disputaron dos pesos de estilo libre masculino, 79kg y 92kg. USA ganó ambos.

Thomas GANTT ganó el oro en la categoría 79kg, derrotando a Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) en el final, 8-0. En total, Gantt reclamó cuatro victorias, incluyendo tres por superioridades técnicas.

En 92kg, Nathan JACKSON (USA) recibió el oro en su debut panamericano. Compitiendo en un round robin, Jackson ganó cuatro peleas. Para el título, Jackson venció contra Jeremy POIRIER (CAN), 10-0, en el primer periodo.

La competencia sigue mañana con las ocho categorías restantes en estilo libre masculino. Empieza a las 10 a.m. hora local. Se puede ver en uww.org.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
50kg
GOLD – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE – Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Yusmy CHAPARRO URREGO (COL), 3-0
BRONZE – Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Madison PARKS (CAN), 5-2

53kg
GOLD – Ronna HEATON (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 9-6
BRONZE – Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA) df. Laura PEREDO TORRES (MEX), 2-2

57kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Alexandria TOWN (CAN), fall 3:40
BRONZE – Cameron GUERIN (USA) df. Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX), 7-2

62kg
GOLD – Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0
BRONZE – Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) df. Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU), 11-0

68kg
GOLD – Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) df. Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4
BRONZE – Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), fall 4:23
BRONZE – Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA) df. Alexia SHERLAND (CAN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD – Adeline GRAY (USA)
SILVER – Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)

MEN’S FREESTYLE
79kg
GOLD – Thomas GANTT (USA) df. Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), 8-0
BRONZE – Samuel BARMISH (CAN) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 6-0

92kg
GOLD – Nathan JACKSON (USA)
SILVER – Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)
BRONZE – Angel BAUTISTA LOPEZ (MEX)

2026 Muhamet Malo

'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 21:58 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) could have challenged him. Up-and-coming Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) could have caused trouble. Or maybe Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) would have caused an upset.

None of that happened. A calm and composed Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) marked his return to the mat with yet another gold medal, winning the 97kg weight class at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event on Thursday in Tirana, Albania.

It has become increasingly rare to see Sadulaev wrestle internationally, but when he does, the results tend to be a foregone conclusion. Sadulaev last wrestled at a global event at the same Feti Borova Arena in Tirana in October 2024 when he claimed his sixth world title, stunningly dropping to 92kg.

After 15 months, he was back -- at 97kg and, the top of the podium.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me, those in the arena and those watching on TV and smartphones," Sadulaev said. "Everyone who cheered, worried, and prayed for me. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of you."

When Sadulaev stepped on the mat on Thursday, he rolled back the years. Right hand on his opponent's forehand, circling while standing tall. He would throw himself back if someone tried to attack his legs and then get a front headlock to score.

A true throwback in Tirana would have been a Sadulaev and Snyder clash but Khaniev decided to postpone that for now by beating the United States wrestler in the quarterfinals. Sadulaev got Khaniev in the final.

He was the first on board with a double-leg attack which gave him four points. He then made Khaniev toil to find an opening and when he did, Sadulaev defended like a rock. Khaniev was able to score only through stepouts -- managing four points from it while Sadulaev added three more takedowns to finish the final 10-4.

While the gold medal was a satisfactory result for Sadulaev, there was an added incentive that he was chasing.

"For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships, which will take place here in this same arena in two months, in April. It was very important for me to qualify there," he said.

Sadulaev, if he competes, will be at the European Championships after six years having last competed at the tournament in 2020. He won gold medal at 97kg in Rome.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) scores on Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) in the 97kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final against Khaniev was a virtual wrestle-off to win the spot for the continental championships, to be held from April 20 to 26. And despite beating Khaniev, Sadulaev was all praise for the youngster.

"Khaniev is young and promising," he said. "I thought we might meet before the final, but [because of the bracket] we faced each other only in the final.

"I know him well, we train in the same region, we’ve been at training camps together and worked side by side. He’s very tough, with a really good stamina. He hasn’t gained that much experience yet, but I believe he has everything ahead of him."

Khaniev, making his debut at 97kg internationally, sprung a surprise when he defeated Snyder 10-4, using some crafty counters in the second period. He also defeated Magomedov in the semifinals.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) completes a fireman's carry move. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Sadulaev isn't reading much into Snyder's loss as the U.S. wrestler had lost to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in Tirana but went on to win the world gold in September.

"At tournaments like this, he [Snyder] usually doesn’t come in at peak form the way he does for the World Championships or the Olympic Games, where he’s been in his best shape," Sadulaev said. "So this loss doesn’t really say much. Maybe he will win the next World Championships."

The World Championships in Manama, Bahrain is scheduled in October and there is a good chance that both Sadulaev and Snyder will be there. But Sadulaev is hoping for a more decorated field.

"If everything goes well and I make it for the World Championships, four Olympic champions could compete in this weight class [in Bahrain] -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Kyle [SNYDER] and Ahmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and myself, and other medalists," he said. "I think it will be the most competitive and exciting weight category."

Sadulaev, in his subtle humor, would go on.

"It’s hot enough there [Bahrain], but I think at the World Championships, it will be even hotter."

Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

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'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return