Member News

June 18, 2007

PJU Announces Pan Am Games Wildcards

On Saturday, the Pan American Judo Union announced the 20 athletes who would be given wildcard slots to participate in the Pan American Games, July 19-20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The selection process for the Pan Am Games allowed countries placing in the top eight or nine between the 2006 and 2007 Pan American Championships.  In addition, 20 wildcard slots were made available across all divisions for the PJU to select additional athletes.

Among the wildcards are at least three who have earned medals at previous Pan American Championships, including: 

• Diana Chala (ECU), 2005 Pan American Champion at 70kg
• Leonel Ruiz (VEN), 2004 Pan American Champion at +100kg
• Juan Carlos Jacinto (DOM), four-time Pan American medalist at 66kg and three-time Pan Am medalist at 60kg

Other notable athletes on the wildcard list include:

• Franklin Cisneros (ELS), 2005 Pan American Championships fifth-place finisher at 81kg
• Luis Moran (HON), 2003 Pan American Games seventh-place finisher at +100kg
• Zuleyma Garcia (ELS), 2005 Pan American Championships fifth-place finisher at 48kg

A complete list of athletes receiving wildcard allocations is as follows:

Men’s 60kg

Roy Vargas (BOL)

Douglas Arevalp (GUA)

Kenny Godoy (HON)

Men’s 66kg

Juan Jacinto (DOM)

Juan Guzman (BOL)

Men’s 73kg

Wilfredo Augusto Caceres (PAR)

Eduardo Novoa (CHI)

Sair Arbaiza (GUA)

Men’s 81kg

Fiderd Vis (ARU)

Franklin Cisceros (ELS)

Francisco Ayala (CHI)

Men’s 90kg

Rikey Dixon (CAY)

Men’s +100kg

Luis Moran (HON)

Leonel Ruiz (VEN)

Women’s 48kg

Gerdine Mathieu (HAI)

Evelyn Rodriguez (GUA)

Zuleyma Garcia (ECU)

Claudia Gonzalez (NCA)

Women’s 70kg

Diana Chala (ECU)

Women’s +78kg

Alejandro Solis (NCA)