Athletes from the Mato Alto Olympic Village win four medals at the Pan-American Championship.

Athletes from the Vila display their four Pan-American gold and bronze medals alongside coach Maurício Santiago. Photo: Press Release

Athletes from the Vila Olímpica do Mato Alto, in Praça Seca, won four podium finishes at the Pan-American Karate Championship. They returned from the tournament with two gold and one bronze medals in individual categories and a bronze medal in the team event, along with the Brazilian national team. The competition, which returned to the country after a decade, was held last week in Macaé. The event featured approximately 650 high-performance athletes from 23 countries.

"It's a joy to see athletes from the City Hall's sports facilities representing the country and achieving significant results in competitions. Vila do Mato Alto is a breeding ground for karatekas. We continue to invest in sports to develop even more talent," says the Municipal Secretary of Sports, Bruno Ramos.

Three athletes from the unit, which honors Professor Manoel José Gomes Tubino, participated in the competition representing the country. In the under-21 category, Lavinia Costa (-55kg) won the gold medal and Bernardo Mello (-60kg) won the bronze. In the senior category, Filipe Medeiros (-84kg) was crowned champion.

Mauricio Santiago, the technical coordinator of the sports facilities for the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and coach of the athletes, celebrated the results.

"As a coach and coordinator, I feel very proud to see them climb onto the podium once again. Seeing Lavinia win her third Pan-American title, Filipe become a two-time continental champion, and Bernardo achieve an important result at the international level is a source of great satisfaction for us. They are athletes who inspire the younger ones and demonstrate the strength of our work. I've been at the Village for 16 years, and more than the medals, I'm happy to see the personal and sporting evolution of each of them," highlighted Mauricio.

Three-time Pan-American champion and bronze medalist with the Brazilian team, 19-year-old Lavinia Costa is close to securing a spot in the WKF U21 World Championship, which will be held at the end of the year in Poland. A student at the Vila Olímpica do Mato Alto since 2023, she celebrated the achievement and highlighted the work done at the sports facility.

"Being a Pan-American champion again is already very special, but winning at home, in Brazil, with my family, friends, and the fans present, made everything even more exciting. It was an unforgettable moment that I will cherish very much. The Village played a fundamental role in this achievement. Professor Maurício supports me at all times, believes in my potential, and encourages me daily to improve. Having a coach who believes in your work and your dreams, and training partners who challenge me every day, makes all the difference."

Filipe Medeiros, an athlete and karate instructor at the Mato Alto Olympic Village, won his second Pan-American championship and moved closer to qualifying for the South American Games. Having been at the Village for over ten years, the champion has accumulated numerous achievements in the sport and inspires the students he trains with daily.

"Participating in the Pan-American Games and representing Brazil is always an honor. The fights were very tough against great opponents, but having the support of the crowd and winning the title was an unforgettable feeling. I hope this achievement serves as inspiration for my students and shows that results are built with dedication, hard work, and love for the sport."

For over ten years in Vila, Felipe Medeiros has collected medals in the sport and, at the same time, inspires the local students. This contributes to the development of new generations in the sport.

"Participating in the Pan American Games is always great, defending my country's flag is an honor. The fights were very tough, against great opponents on the international stage, but hearing the crowd cheering for me, and managing to emerge victorious, was magical! I believe this title can serve as inspiration for my students. And show them that these achievements are built day by day, with effort and love for what you do," explains Filipe.

After the Pan-American Games, the athletes have already resumed training, aiming for their next challenge. In a two-week period, the team will travel to Colombia to participate in the South American Championship.