Double Bronze for Haynes and Goodrich at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

(Colorado Springs, CO) – The qualification journey to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games got underway on July 11 at the International Blind Sports Association's (IBSA) Judo Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and U.S. athletes were among the medal winners making an early statement. Para judo is reserved for athletes with visual impairments and is divided into two sport classes, J1 and J2, according to the nature and extent of the athletes' visual impairments.

Making a splash in her first international competition was 35-year-old Melissa Haynes (Cullman, Ala. / Nina Cutro-Kelly Judo at RPBJJ) who won a bronze medal in the women's -70 kg J2 category. Haynes defeated Vrushali Ashok More (IND) in the final, scoring a yuko (partial point) in the third minute, which stood up as the match's only score.

Joining Haynes on the podium was Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medalist Ben Goodrich (Saint Paul, Minn.), who also captured a bronze medal in the men's +95 kg J2 competition. Goodrich defeated Tsukasa Tanaka (JPN) in the final, scoring an ippon (instant win) just over a minute into the contest.

Also competing for the U.S. were Yadira Thabatah (Fort Worth, Texas / Chandler Judo Academy) in -60 kg J1, Katie Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento Judo) in +70 kg J2, Riley Schmitz (Richfield, Minn. / DOCS Gym - MN Judo and Jiu Jitsu) in -70 kg J2, and Carlos Almonte (San Ysidro, Calif.) in -70 kg J1.

The next Para Judo event on the international calendar is the 2026 IBSA Judo European Championship in Heidelberg, Germany, on August 9.

IBSA Judo Grand Prix São Paulo 2026 Results

J1 Men -70 kg
1. Florin Alexandru BOLOGA (ROU)
2. Dong Dong CAMANNI (ITA)
3. Eduardo GAUTO (ARG)
3. Deyverson DE SOUZA (BRA)
5. Assylan NURDAULETOV (KAZ)
5. Djibrilo IAFA (POR)
7. Elielton DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
7. Abdelkader BOUAMER (ALG)

J1 Women -52 kg
1. Rosicleide DE ANDRADE (BRA)i
2. Alfiya TLEKKABYL (KAZ)
3. Priscilla GAGNE (CAN)
3. Maria MANZANERO RUIZ (ESP)
5. Omnia DAWOUD (EGY)
5. Bonu BABAEVA (UZB)
7. Novia LARASSATI (INA)
7. Jenny Andrea OROZCO ESCARRAGA (COL)

J1 Men -81 kg
1. Danilo David GERONIMO SILVA (BRA)
2. Shokhrukh MAMEDOV (UZB)
3. Cyril D. JONARD (FRA)
3. Mahmoud ALY (EGY)
5. Minwoo LEE (KOR)
5. Rafli Ahnaf SHIDQI (INA)
7. Alejandro KUNKEL (ARG)
7. Yuji KATO (JPN)

J2 Women -52 kg
1. Aibike ULANBEK KYZY (KGZ)
2. Eslendy Catalina D. LAMADRID PENUELA (COL)
3. Ayumi ISHII (JPN)
3. KOKILA (IND)
5. Maria del Rosario MORENO GARCIA (MEX)
5. Giovana RODRIGUES (BRA)

J2 Men -70 kg
1. Ibragim NURMAKHANULY (KAZ)
2. Kemran NURILLAEV (UZB)
3. Sergio IBANEZ BANON (ESP)
3. Sherzod NAMOZOV (UZB)
5. Thiego DA SILVA (BRA)
5. Tetsuya SAKURAI (JPN)
7. Youn BALCOU (FRA)
7. Min Jae LEE (KOR)

J2 Women -60 kg
1. Kumushkhon KHODJAEVA (UZB)
2. Junko HIROSE (JPN)
3. Lucia ARAUJO (BRA)
3. Marta ARCE PAYNO (ESP)
5. Laura Candela GONZALEZ (ARG)
5. Estefania Antonia MARTINEZ TELLO (CHI)

J2 Men -81 kg
1. Bexultan KULMURZA (KAZ)
2. Dmytro SOLOVEY (UKR)
3. Donghoon KIM (KOR)
3. Evan MOLLOY (GBR)
5. Galymzhan SMAGULULY (KAZ)
5. Simone CANNIZZARO (ITA)
7. Anderson DA SILVA (BRA)
7. Denis ROSA (BRA)

J2 Men +95 kg
1. Zhurkamyrza SHUKURBEKOV (KAZ)
2. Felipe AMORIM DE SOUZA (BRA)
3. Gwang Geun CHOl (KOR)

J1 Women +70 kg
1. Anastasiia HARNYK (UKR)
2. Millena DE FREITAS (BRA)
3. Erika ZOAGA (BRA)

J1 Women -60 kg
1. Anzhela HAVRYSIUK (UKR)
2. Paula Karina GOMEZ (ARG)
3. Uljon AMRIEVA (UZB)
3. Karoline DUARTE (BRA)

J1 Men -95 kg
1. Arthur CAVALCANTE DA SILVA (BRA)
2. Daniel POWELL (GBR)
3. Turgun ABDIEV (UZB)
3. Fajar PAMBUDI (INA)

J1 Women -70 kg
1. Brenda SOUZA DE FREITAS (BRA)
2. Theodora PASCHALIDOU (GRE)
3. SIYAMSIH (INA)
3. Ariagna De La Caridad HECHEVARRIA CASTRO (CUB)

J1 Men +95 kg
1. Wilians DE ARAUJO (BRA)
2. Yerlan UTEPOV (KAZ)
3. Rodrigo SUAREZ GARROSA (ESP)
3. Daniel ENGLISH (GBR)

J2 Women -70 kg
1. Kazusa OGAWA (JPN)
2. Ayala MEREKE (KAZ)
3. Melissa D HAYNES (USA)
3. Taylor GOSENS (AUS)

J2 Men -95 kg
1. Helios LATCHOUMANAYA (FRA)
2. Marcelo CASANOVA (BRA)
3. Davurkhon KAROMATOV (UZB)
3. Benjamin GOODRICH (USA)

J2 Women +70 kg
1. Rebeca SILVA (BRA)
2. Mokhinur PARMONOVA (UZB)
3. Kirsten TAYLOR (GBR)
3. Sheyla Samarian HERNANDEZ ESTUPINAN (CUB)