São Paulo, Brazil — USA’s Riley Schmitz made his mark at the IBSA Pan-America & Oceania Judo Championships 2025, taking home bronze in the J2 Men’s 70kg division. The event, hosted at Brazil’s Paralympic Training Centre, showcased top visually impaired judoka from across the Americas and Oceania, with Brazil dominating the gold medals across most divisions.
USA Athletes Shine Amidst Tough Competition
Riley Schmitz of @docs.gym.mpls earned the bronze medal, marking a major achievement for USA judo on the continental stage. Another standout was Ron Hawthorne (@denver.judo.dojo), who finished 5th in the same division.
In the J1 Men’s 70kg division, Jeff Mata (San Diego Judo) gained invaluable international experience, demonstrating the growth of USA para-judo talent.
Brazil Dominates the Podium
Brazil proved its dominance, claiming multiple golds across both men’s and women’s divisions:
Men’s J1
- 70kg: Gold – Deyverson De Souza, Silver – Eduardo Gauto (ARG), Bronzes – Elielton De Oliveira (BRA), Gabriel Ferreira Rodrigues (BRA)
- 81kg: Gold – Danilo David Geronimo Silva, Silver – Emerson Aguiar, Bronzes – Harlley Damiao Pereira Arruda, Eitel Houedakor (CAN)
- 95kg: Gold – Arthur Cavalcante Da Silva
- +95kg: Gold – Wilian’s De Araujo, Silver – Oscar Aguirre (MEX), Bronze – Cristian Angel Alderete (ARG)
Men’s J2
- 70kg: Gold – Thiego Da Silva, Silver – Raul Zarate Arias (COL), Bronze – Riley Schmitz (USA), Bronze – Jose Manuel Romero Martinez (CUB)
- +95kg: Gold – Felipe Amorim De Souza, Silver – Abner Nascimento De Oliveira
Women’s J1
- 52kg: Gold – Rosicleide De Andrade, Silver – Rocio Silvana D Ledesma Dure (ARG), Bronzes – Priscilla Gagne (CAN), Wiliany Vitoria Costa Do Nascimento
- 60kg: Gold – Larissa Silva, Silver – Paula Karina Gomez (ARG)
- 70kg: Gold – Brenda Souza De Freitas, Silver – Ariagna De La Caridad Hechevarria Castro (CUB)
- +70kg: Gold – Erika Zoaga
Women’s J2
- 60kg: Gold – Maria Nubea Dos Santos Lins, Silver – Hellen Cordeiro Machado, Bronze – Lucia Araujo
- 70kg: Gold – Alana Maldonado, Silver – Kelly Kethyllin Barroas Victorio
- +70kg: Gold – Rebeca Silva, Silver – Sheyla Samarian Hernandez Estupinan (CUB)
A Celebration of Para-Sport
The IBSA Pan-America & Oceania Championships took place at a world-class Paralympic Training Centre, fostering an inclusive environment for visually impaired athletes.
While participation numbers remain modest, these pioneering athletes are shaping a more inclusive future. Competitors like Schmitz show that USA judo is gaining ground, even in regions traditionally dominated by Brazil.
Looking Ahead
With the growth of para-sport worldwide, each athlete, medal, and match contributes to a stronger, more competitive global judo community. For the USA, medalists like Riley Schmitz prove that the country is ready to challenge Brazil’s dominance in the future.
