Tulum Judokas Win Three Golds and a Silver, Qualify for National Olympics

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Tulum’s judo team clinched three gold medals and one silver at the Tomoyoshi Yamaguchi National Judo Tournament, a key qualifying event for the 2026 National Olympics.

The results secured several athletes from the municipality top positions in their divisions and guaranteed their advancement to the next stage of the national competitive circuit.

In the Under-13 category, Mateo Gabriel Medina Cruz took gold in the 40-kilogram division after defeating his rivals and finishing first. In Under-15, Thaily Sofía Molina Mayo won gold in the 48-kilogram division, while Dylan Gael Itzá Saval claimed another gold in the 66-kilogram category.

Maximiliano E. Vázquez Cámara added a silver medal in the 40-kilogram division after reaching the final. Christopher E. Vázquez Cámara placed fifth in the 45-kilogram division, a position that also earned him qualification for the National Olympics.

The athletes train under coaches Marta Domínguez and Juan. After the tournament, Domínguez acknowledged the team had hoped for more medals based on prior performances. “Despite the medals we won, the results weren’t what we expected, as some children who were predicted to medal or at least qualify didn’t. But we know that’s how sports are, and all we can do is keep working,” she said.

The Tomoyoshi Yamaguchi tournament gathers competitors from across Mexico and is part of the official calendar determining which athletes advance to the National Olympics, the country’s premier youth sports event.