2009 Pan American Judo Championships
March 27-28, 2009
Travis Steven (81kg), 2009 Pan American Gold Medalist
Stevens wins Pan American Judo Championships
Buenos Aires, Argentina:
Pedro's Judo Center sent 3 athletes to the Pan American Judo Championships in Argentina last Monday.
2008 Olympian Travis Stevens had a stellar performance going undefeated to win gold in the 81kg (178lb) division. Stevens defeated #4 ranked player in the World Emmanuel Lucenti (ARG) in front of a vocal home town crowd in his semi final match. For the gold medal Stevens squared off against 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist and former #1 ranked player in the World Flavio Canto of Brazil. Stevens had a winning record coming into the match with Flavio as he had beaten him in the Semi-finals of the 2007 Pan American games in Brazil. Stevens and Canto fought a thrilling match where both players were attacking furiously but unable to produce a score sending the match into sudden death overtime. Stevens threw Canto for ippon with a beautiful leg technique to earn the gold medal and land at the top of the podium. Stevens gold medal incredibly moves his world ranking from # 58 to # 5. The International Judo Federation officially launched its world ranking requirements as of January 1st 2009. Travis will now enter the World Championships with at least a top 10 seed giving him an even better opportunity to become the first US Player to medal in the 81kg division since 1993.
Travis has been working diligently with coach Jimmy Pedro to become one of the top players in the world. Pedro's no nonsense approach to coaching coupled with the highest level of professionalism has catapulted Stevens into his highest ever World Ranking.
2008 Olympian Dan McCormick also competed on the day posting a 1-2 record in the +100kg (+220lb) division finishing 5th. Dan made a rookie mistake by getting scored on with 10 seconds left of the bronze medal match leaving him with 5th place. His efforts were enough to earn him his first ever World ranking of #25.
19 year old Aaron Kunihiro competes for the United States tomorrow in the 60kg (132lb) weight class.
