A massive Pan-American championship of Under-14, Cadet (14-15), Junior (16-17) and U-21 (18-20) Karatekas convened in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) for the 29th Pan American Championships from 20-26 August. In all, some 727 athletes from 21 countries competed in Kata and Kumite divisions.
The hosts ended up being the top medal winners, earning 36 medals in total, with 12 wins. The U.S. scored 25 medals (7-7-11) and Mexico had 24 (6-4-14). Summaries for the U-21 division:
Pan American U-21 Championships
Rio de Janeiro (BRA) ~ 20-26 August 2018
(Full results here)
Men
Kata: 1. Hector Cencion (PAN); 2. Felipe Polo-Florez (COL); 3. Larry Aracena-Duran (DOM) and Rey Chinen (USA).
Kumite -60 kg: 1. Jorge Goni Mottila (MEX); 2. Joao Oliveira (BRA); 3. Gabriel Miranda (BRA) and Paul Lopez (WKF guest).
Kumite -67 kg: 1. Andhi Avila (WKF guest); 2. Cesar Fernandez (BOL); 3. Jose Luque (MEX) and Nino Esparza (MEX).
Kumite -75 kg: 1. Marco Dos (BRA); 2. Luis Calvillo (MEX); 3. Luis Cespedes (CHI) and Jose Valdivia (WKF guest).
Kumite -84 kg: 1. Maxym-Olivier Rivest (CAN); 2. Fernando Candido (BRA); 3. Juan Minuet (ARG) and Maximillian Segal (USA).
Kumite +84 kg: 1. Juan Manuel Castro (MEX); 2. Agustin Perez (ARG); 3. Haroldo Santos Jr. (BRA) and Eder Enrique Gotera (COL).
Women
Kata: 1. Valerya Hernandez-Moyeda (VEN); 2. Heydi Ortiz (WKF guest); 3. Beatriz Thihara (BRA) and Andrea Armada (VEN).
Kumite -50 kg: 1. Thalia Terrero-Alcanatara (DOM); 2. Michelle Navarro (MEX); 3. Selene Rodriguez (WKF guest) and Daniela Nadales (VEN).
Kumite -55 kg: 1. Valentina Toro (CHI); 2. Tihare Astudillo (CHI); 3. Monica Sanchez Zavaleta (MEX) and Sabrina Pereira (BRA).
Kumite -61 kg: 1. Claudymar Garces Sequera (VEN); 2. Tais Oliveira (BRA); 3. Rosalinda Rodriguez (MEX) and Paola Payen (MEX).
Kumite -68 kg: 1. Sachiko Ramos (MEX); 2. Andrea Pinto (CHI); 3. Sharon Torres (COL) and Rafaela Silva (BRA).
Kumite +68 kg: 1. Cirrus Lingl (USA); 2. Eileen Vargas (CHI); 3. Elizabeth Ortiz (MEX) and Brenda Padilha (BRA).
