Seven Dominican Judo Athletes Chase Olympic Points in Miami
A seven-athlete Dominican judo delegation competes this weekend in Florida, aiming for points toward Los Angeles 2028.
Key points
- Seven Dominican athletes will compete in the Miami Panamericano Open 2026 Judo tournament.
- The event takes place this Saturday and Sunday in Gainesville, Florida, endorsed by the IJF.
- The athletes aim to earn points for qualification to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
- Judokas from 40 countries across four continents will take part.
The Dominican Republic will send a seven-judoka delegation to the Miami Panamericano Open 2026, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday in Gainesville, Florida. The tournament is endorsed by the International Judo Federation (IJF).
The trip is backed by the Grupo Creando Sueños Olímpicos (Creso) and the Ministry of Sports. The athletes' goal is to earn points for the qualification process for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
On the women's side, Eiraima Silvestre (-78 kg), Moira Morillo (+78 kg), Esmeralda Damiano (-70 kg), Clara Barinas (-53 kg) and Coral Velásquez (-52 kg) will compete. In the men's division, Robert Florentino (-100 kg) and José Nova (+100 kg) will represent the country.
The athletes travel with coach Wander Mateo and referee Rolando Robles.
The competition will bring together 251 judokas, including 142 men and 109 women, from 40 countries across four continents.