In approximately 15 days, the iconic city of Rio de Janeiro will once again ignite the continental taekwondo scene. From May 7 to 10, 2026 , Arena Carioca 1 , in the Olympic Park, will be the epicenter of Pan American taekwondo, hosting the Pan American Senior G4 Championship, Parataekwondo, Poomsae, and the Pan American Open for cadets, juniors, and under-21s, all part of a single week of high-impact competition.
Brazil arrives as host and protagonist. The CBTKD is at the head of the organizing committee, with the technical support of the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) and (WT), and with a powerful narrative: competing at home, in an Olympic venue, after a growth cycle that has already established the country as a continental and world power.
The atmosphere promises some highly anticipated matchups. In the -80 kg category , the duel everyone wants to see once again has a name on the line: Henrique Marques vs. CJ Nickolas . The Brazilian has recently established himself as one of the world's top fighters, while the American remains a leading figure in the division. Also competing in this category is Chilean Joaquín Churchill , who reached No. 3 in the world rankings for the -80 kg division , a historic achievement for Chile.
In the women's -49 kg category, another chapter of continental tension could be on the cards: Andrea Ramírez of Colombia faces Daniela Souza of Mexico , the 2022 world champion. Ramírez comes into the match strengthened after winning the 2026 US Open , while Souza responded with gold at the 2026 Canada Open .
Mexico will also have a heavy eye on Carlos Sansores , a major figure in the +87 kg division, called upon to hold his own against rivals from the United States and Cuba , in a division where every fight seems like an early final.
Rio will not only bring together established names. The Pan American Games week will also be a platform for the new generation: cadets, juniors, and under-21s will compete under World Tour rules, with seeding based on world rankings and a structure aimed at the continent's immediate future. Furthermore, in poomsae, we could witness the brilliance of Mexican William Arroyo or Puerto Rican Arelis Medina , both contenders for the Pan American title, along with Guatemalan Maria Higueros.
The message is clear: the Americas are arriving in Rio with world and Olympic champions, rising stars, and fierce rivalries. Brazil will be more than just a host; it will be a judge, a participant, and a local powerhouse. And the Carioca Arena 1 is once again preparing to host a gathering of the best in the Americas.
As a testament to its status as host nation and emerging power, Brazil arrives in Rio riding high on the momentum of a historic performance at the 2025 World Championships in Wuxi, where it achieved one of its best showings ever. There, Henrique Marques became world champion in the -80 kg category—marking a milestone for Brazilian men's taekwondo—while Maria Clara Pacheco did the same in the -57 kg category, solidifying the country's dominance in women's taekwondo. These two gold medals were complemented by silver medals from Edival Pontes and Milena Titoneli , completing a tally that placed Brazil among the elite of the world medal standings and positions this generation as one of the most competitive on the continent heading into the Pan American Games.
In this context, the Pan American Para taekwondo competition in Rio is shaping up to be incredibly strong, with the presence—or at least the expectation—of the continent's top athletes who shone at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and are now considered the ones to beat. Leading the pack is Peruvian Leonor Espinoza, Paralympic champion in the K44 -47 kg category and the undisputed leader in the division. Alongside her are Mexican Luis Mario Nájera, silver medalist in the K44 -80 kg category, and his compatriot Juan Diego García López, bronze medalist in the K44 -70 kg category, solidifying Mexico's position as one of the strongest teams.
In that same category appears the Chilean Juan Eduardo Samorano, also a bronze medalist in Paris, while in the heavyweight division the American Evan Medell (bronze in +80 kg) completes the group of elite contenders.
Maria Eduarda Machado and Débora Menezes , who have been world medalists and dominators of the recent Pan American circuit, reflecting the depth of the Brazilian team.
If they appear at the Carioca Arena , Nathan Torquato, K44 -63 kg, and Silvana Fernandes, K44 -57 kg, both with experience and regularity on Paralympic podiums, could be key to Brazil 's results in the Pan American Games
This achievement also deserves institutional recognition: congratulations to the president of the CBTKD, Rivanaldo Freitas, its board of directors and the high-performance team led by Henrique Precioso and Juan Moreno, whose work and advice have been key to positioning Brazil as a comprehensive power in world taekwondo.
https://mundotaekwondo.com/panamericanos-de-taekwondo-en-rio-la-reunion-de-los-mejores-de-america/
