Toronto, Pan Am Games

Lopez Leads Trio of Cubans into Finals at Pan Am Games

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 22:55 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 15) – World and Olympic Games champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) rolled up a pair of technical falls to advance to the 130kg gold medal final in Greco-Roman on Thursday, the second day of the Pan American Games wrestling competition.

Lopez, seeking his fourth gold medal at the Pan American Games, made short work of Moises PEREZ (VEN) and Pan American championships winner Robby SMITH (USA) to join Yasmany LUGO (CUB) and Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) into Thursday evening’s gold medal matches.

 

In the Greco-Roman finale, Lopez will meet two-time South American champion Andres AYUB (CHI) whose late gut wrench in the semifinals made him the first wrestling gold medal finalist from Chile in the history of the Games.

On Wednesday evening, teammate Cristobal TORRES became the first wrestling medalist at the Games from Chile when he won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman at 59kg.

Meanwhile, Lugo rolled up a pair of technical falls to advance to the 98kg gold medal final on his first trip to the Games.  The four-time Pan American championships winner will meet another Pan American junor champion Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Unlike with the Cuban men who rolled into the finals, Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) forged two wins of criteria, defeating 2014 Pan Am champ Lissette ANTES (ECU), 5-5, and 2012 champ Sandra ROA (COL), 4-4,for her place in the women’s 58kg final.

Estornell, the 2013 Pan Am champion, will meet Joice SILVA (BRA), winner of the 2015 continental crown in April.

With action in women’s wrestling getting under way at Mississauga Sports Center, Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) advanced to the 48kg final to the delight of the hometown fans. Morrison will meet with 2013 champion Thalia MALLQUI (PER) for the gold medal.

Whitney CONDER (USA), a runner-up in the 2012 Pan Am championships, will hope to go one better in the 53kg final against Alma VALENCIA (MEX), who has blitzed into the final with an 11-0 drubbing of 2014 Pan Am champ Luisa VALVERDE (ECU.

Greco-Roman - 98kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Kevin MEJIA (HON) by Fall 
BRONZE: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Jose ROCHA (MEX), 4-0 
BRONZE: Davi ALBINO (BRA) df. Oscar LOANGO (COL), 5-1 

Semifinals: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Luillys PEREZ (VEN), 8-2
Semifinals: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Davi ALBINO (BRA) by TF, 8-0 

1/4 Finals: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Jose ROCHA (MEX), 6-0 
1/4 Finals: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Caylor WILLIAMS (USA), 11-4
1/4 Finals: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Oscar LOANGO (COL) by TF, 9-0
1/4 Finals: Davi ALBINO (BRA) df. Jeremy LATOUR (CAN) by TF, 10-1


Greco-Roman - 130kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Andres AYUB (CHI) by TF, 8-0 
BRONZE: Josue ENCARNACION (DOM) df. Charles THOMS (CAN), 2-0 
BRONZE: Robby SMITH (USA) df. Moises PEREZ (VEN) by Default

Semifinals: Andres AYUB (CHI) df. Josue ENCARNACION (DOM), 3-3 
Semifinals: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Robby SMITH (USA) by TF, 8-0

1/4 Finals: Josue ENCARNACION (DOM) df. Luciano DEL RIO (ARG), 6-5 
1/4 Finals: Andres AYUB (CHI) df. Charles THOMS (CAN) by TF, 10-2 
1/4 Finals: Robby SMITH (USA) df. Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) by Fall 
1/4 Finals: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Moises PEREZ (VEN) by TF, 9-0


Women’s Wrestling - 48kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Thalia MALLQUI (PER), 5-4
BRONZE: Alyssa LAMPE (USA) df. Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB) by TF, 12-2
BRONZE: Carolina CASTILLO (COL) df. Angelica BUSTOS (ECU), 1-1

Semifinals: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB), 6-0 
Semifinals: Thalia MALLQUI (PER) df. Carolina CASTILLO (COL), 4-3 

1/4 Finals: Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB) df. Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) by TF, 15-4
1/4 Finals: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Alyssa LAMPE (USA), 12-8
1/4 Finals: Thalia MALLQUI (PER) df. Angelica BUSTOS (ECU), 3-0
1/4 Finals: Carolina CASTILLO (COL) df. Sehilyn OLIVEIROS (VEN) by TF, 10-0

Women’s Wrestling - 53kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Alma VALENCIA (MEX), 3-2
BRONZE: Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) – uncontested
BRONZE: Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) by Fall

Semifinals: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) by Fall
Semifinals: Alma VALENCIA (MEX) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) by TF, 11-0

Qualifications: Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) df. Brianne BARNEY (CAN), 10-1 
Qualifications: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Giulia RODRIGUES (BRA), 5-4
Qualifications: Alma VALENCIA (MEX) df. Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) by TF, 12-1

Women’s Wrestling - 58kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB), 6-5
BRONZE: Lissette ANTES (ECU) df. Sandra ROA (COL) by TF, 12-1
BRONZE: Yanet SOVERO (PER) df. Alejandra ROMERO (MEX), 6-6 

Semifinals: Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) df. Sandra ROA (COL), 4-4
Semifinals: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Yanet SOVERO (PER), 5-3

1/4 Finals: Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) df. Lissette ANTES (ECU), 5-5
1/4 Finals: Sandra ROA (COL) df. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN), 8-5 
1/4 Finals: Yanet SOVERO (PER) df. Betzabeth SARCOS (VEN), 3-2
1/4 Finals: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Alejandra ROMERO (MEX), 2-1

#development

Road to Dakar 2026 Continues with Successful Central Africa Programme in Brazzaville

Monday, June 22, 2026 - 08:50 By United World Wrestling Press

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BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (June 21) -- The second stop of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Africa Regional Educational Development Programme, Road to Dakar 2026, concluded successfully in Brazzaville after a week combining athlete preparation, education, technical development and competition in Olympic and Beach Wrestling.

Held from June 8 to 14 in the Republic of Congo, the Central Africa phase brought together National Olympic Committees and National Federations from across the region under a unified objective: strengthening wrestling ecosystems and creating more accessible pathways toward the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.

As the second of four regional tournaments scheduled within the continental Road to Dakar programme, the event represented another important milestone on the road to the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.

Africa REDT

The UWW Africa Regional Educational Development Programme was designed as a comprehensive and sustainable model that extends beyond competition. The initiative combines athlete development camps, coach and referee education, and practical competition opportunities.

By decentralising activities across regions and consolidating training and competition into one structure, the programme aims to reduce financial barriers for national federations and increase opportunities for athletes and technical officials.

Throughout the week, athletes participated in intensive daily training sessions, as coaches attended the UWW Technical Course - Level 2, focused on improving technical knowledge, athlete development methodologies and long-term performance planning.

Africa REDT

Simultaneously, referees took part in dedicated education sessions covering Beach Wrestling and introductory officiating pathways, preparing them for selection to undertake the International Category III referee examination in the future.

The programme concluded with the Regional Tournament, followed by the Beach Wrestling Regional Tournament, giving participants the opportunity to apply lessons learned during the educational phase directly into competition conditions.

The programme specifically prioritised youth development, with participating athletes largely drawn from the U17 age group and encouraging the involvement of emerging coaches across Central Africa. Support mechanisms jointly delivered by UWW and Olympic Solidarity helped facilitate participation through travel, accommodation, training access and tournament organisation.

Africa REDT

More than just a standalone event, Brazzaville demonstrated the long-term vision behind Road to Dakar 2026 by building stronger national structures, expanding participation and creating sustainable development opportunities well before the final qualification stages for the Youth Olympic Games.