USA and Brazil win team events at Taekwondo Pan Am Championships and Rio Open. PATU

Within a week, two major taekwondo events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - the Pan American Senior Championships on 1-3 May and the Rio Open tournament on 4-5 May.

US athletes topped the medals table at the Pan American Kyorugi competitions. They won five gold, three silver and three bronze medals. World silver medallist CJ Nicholas won the gold medal in the -80kg category at both tournaments. 


Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Anastasija Zolotic became Pan American champion in the women’s 62 kg category, but finished second at the Rio Open. 

Paris 2024 hopeful Faith Dylan (-57kg) was the best at the Pan American championships, but finished third at the Rio Open. 


Jonathan Healy (+87kg), another member of the US Olympic team, won silver medals in both tournaments. He lost to Rafael Alba of Cuba at the Pan American Championships and to Erik Batista of Brazil at the Rio Open.

Canada won 3 gold medals at the Pan American Championships, but their biggest star, Skylar Park, finished third in the women's -57kg category. Her brother Tae Ku Park was the 74kg champion.


Brazil won two gold, four silver and nine bronze medals at the Pan Am Championships, but won the team events at the Rio Open kyorugi competition with five gold medals. Brazil also won the Para Taekwondo team events at both the Pan American Championships and the Rio Open. They were also the best in the Rio Open Cadet and Junior tournament with 17 gold medals. USA dominated the competition in the Pan American Poomsae Championships with 6 gold medals.