Venezuela sweeps the start of the Pan-American Junior Weightlifting Championship and qualifier for Lima 2027

Published at: 05/10/2026 10:03 AM

The Venezuelan weightlifting delegation made an overwhelming start in the Pan American Junior Championship and qualifying for Lima 2027, winning 10 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals, leading the overall standings over Mexico and the United States on the opening day.

The tournament, which began on Sunday, had Ulacio the best representative of the national delegation in Enderlin, sweeping the 49-kilogram junior category with the trio of gold medals, with an overwhelming advantage of 28 kg of difference over his closest rival, the Salvadoran July Mendoza.

The Guaireña weightlifter lifted 81 at the start and 100 in the jump for a total of 181 kg and set nine junior records in starting, running and total: three world records, three continental records and three in South America with overwhelming superiority, as Mendoza escorted her to the podium with elevations of 68 and 85 kg (153) and the third place went to the Puerto Rican Mileysa Lebron with records of 65 and 78 (143).

In this same category, but in the event corresponding to the Pan-American qualifier, Patricia Mercado from Guarique won the gold medal starting with 82 kg, the silver in strength when lifting 98 and in total with 180.

Also in the men's 65 kg junior, Falconi's Lissandro Rivero won the three gold medals in dispute, after leaving 126 kg at the start and 153 in two strokes (279), with which he beat the Colombian Santiago Rincón (124, 150/274) and the American Sebastian Stodel (109, 146/255), silver and bronze respectively in total.

For his part, José Fuentes (60 kg) finished the brilliant day for the country with the gold medal in envión, climbing 147 kg to exceed 145 kg for the Colombian Yilber Grijalba. He won the bronze one at the start with 116, down from 119 for Grijalba and 118 for the Ecuadorian Jordan Puente, and he won the silver in total with 263, two kilos less than those of the Neogranadino.

Venezuela topped the first day of competition with 10 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze (15), followed by Mexico with 3 gold and 4 bronzes (7) and the United States is in third place with 3-0-2 (5).

The Pan-American Championship continues today with the appearance at the platform of Venezuelans Ivanis Silva (53 kg), Luis García and Dionangel Vargas (70 kg), Yilihannys Jiménez (57 kg) and Alis Emilio Beroes (75 kg).

Mazo News Team