Gabriel Nogueira’s Gold Leads Six-Medal Day for Team USA at Veterans Worlds

Competing in his first International Judo Federation Veterans World Championships, Gabriel Nogueira (Worcester, Mass. / Worcester Judo) can now call himself a world champion. Nogueira won all three of his matches on Wednesday in the M4 (males age 45-49) +100kg division during the third day of competition at the Rio Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. He led a six-medal performance by Team USA to increase the team’s medal total to 25 heading into Thursday’s final day of competition.

Nogueira began his day by throwing 2021 world bronze medalist Gavris Aurel (ROU) for ippon (instant win) just 19 seconds into their quarterfinal match. The semifinal round pitted Nogueira against reigning silver medalist Odsuren Bayarkhuu (MGL). In a closely contested match, Nogueira was able to score a waza-ari (half point) 28 seconds into the contest and made it stand up to claim the victory and send him into the finals. With the gold medal on the line, Nogueira came out firing against Chinzorig Bud (MGL), scoring a waza-ari just 16 seconds in and then following up with a throw for ippon at the 41-second mark.

Five bronze medals were also part of the U.S. tally on Wednesday.

Stuart Yamatake (San Jose, Calif. / Silicon Valley Judo School) went 3-1 on the day, defeating Shinji Nishio (JPN) in the bronze medal match of the M5 66kg division.

In the M5 +100kg competition, Michael Prieditis (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Worktime Judo) also had a record of 3-1, ending with a win by ippon 16 seconds into his bronze medal contest with countryman Wolfgang Weiler (Elk Grove, Calif. / Griffin Judo).

Chris Hohmann (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo Club) took the bronze medal in the M5 100kg division, fighting back through the repechage after an opening round defeat. He won the bronze by a walkover against Jambul Mchedlishvili (GEO).

The M4 73kg competition saw Gavrila Ford (Roselle Park, N.J. / Cranford JKC) come away with a bronze medal with a 4-1 record on the day. Ford scored two waza-aris just 20 seconds apart to defeat Steve Richardeau (FRA) in the bronze-medal bout.

Carlos Sordo (Las Vegas, Nev. / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club) in the M4 60kg competition rounded out the six-medal haul for the U.S. on Wednesday. After an opening-round loss, Sordo reached the bronze-medal round via the repechage and defeated countryman Shawn Wills (Edmonds, Wash. / Budokan Judo Dojo-Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington) for the bronze, pinning Wills for ippon at the 2:27 mark.

Thursday’s action will feature the M2 (males age 35-39) and all nine female divisions.

Top eight and U.S. results from Day 3 are as follows:

Men’s 4 44-49 60kg
1. Cristian Cezario (BRA)
2. Yann Aussibal (FRA)
3. Hubert Swiech (GER)
3. Carlos Sordo (Las Vegas, Nev. / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club)
5. Victor Ortiz (Ontario, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club)
5. Shawn Wills (Edmonds, Wash. / Budokan Judo Dojo-Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington)
7. Liberyoni Galindo Romero (CAN)
7. Nobuo Yagai (Denver, Colo. / Denver Judo)

Men’s 4 44-49 66kg
1. Chinzorig Sonomdagva (MGL)
2. Yann Calarnou (FRA)
3. Michael Yee (CAN)
3. Sebastian Vinaya (ARG)
5. Jose Mechato (CAN)
5. Ndange Kaba Daddy Bobozo (FRA)
7. Gianni La Piccirella (ITA)
7. Michael Valentine (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri Judo)

Men’s 4 44-49 73kg
1. Milos Mijalkovic (SRB)
2. Bahjet Hayek (BRA)
3. Rakhat Iskakov (KAZ)
3. Gavrila Ford (Roselle Park, N.J. / Cranford JKC)
5. Laurent Verges (FRA)
5. Steve Richardeau (FRA)
7. Fabien Denissel (FRA)
7. Zelamkhan Bekov (KAZ)
Also Competed: Kelvin Reynolds (Killeen, Texas / MSHQ Judo), 0-1
Jeffrey Poole (Cottonwood Heights, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City), 0-1
Thomas McGuire (Clarks Summit, Pa. / Murty’s Judo Center), 1-2
Gustavo Pecego (Miami, Fla.), 0-1
Bhanu Prakash (San Ramon, Calif. / Tri-Valley Judo), 0-1

Men’s 4 44-49 81kg
1. Rodrigo Santana (BRA)
2. James Hornsby (GBR)
3. Bastien Mayet (FRA)
3. Christopher Smiley (CAN)
5. Guillaume Dwleeschauver (FRA)
5. Aibek Atazhanov (KAZ)
7. Joseph Finley (AUS)
7. Joao Arruda Costa (POR)
Also Competed: William Gavigan (Beaufort, S.C. / JMJC Beaufort / Fusion Grappling), 1-2
Carlos Osnaya (Riverside, Calif. / Riverside Youth Judo Club), 1-1
Renato Migliaccio (La Verne, Calif. / Sampa Judo Jiu Jitsu & Sambo), 1-1
Quang Dao (Milpitas, Calif. / San Jose State University Judo), 0-2
Bryan Heiberg (Lomita, Calif.), 0-2
John Rockwell (San Mateo, Calif. / Top Judo), 1-1
Cedric Perroud (Tamarac, Fla. / AP Training Center FL LLC), 2-2
Aaron Villarreal (El Paso, Texas / Eastside Dojo), 0-1

Men’s 4 44-49 90kg
1. Marcel De Aragao (BRA)
2. Peterson Mello (BRA)
3. Joao Santos (POR)
3. Ruben Mendoza Marin (ESP)
5. Vincent Hillairet (FRA)
5. Kanat Sagyndyk (KAZ)
7. Frank Cabannes (FRA)
7. Craig Robbins (GBR)
Also Competed: Vaidas Naujokas (New Providence, N.J. / Cranford JKC), 1-2
Eric Rhemm (Fresno, Calif. / Fresno Judo Club), 0-1
Marcus Mariano DaSilva (Worcester, Mass. / Worcester Judo), 1-1
Daniel Haas (Murray, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City), 1-1
Luis Soto (Sterling, Mass. / Worcester Judo), 1-2
Kevin Tomomitsu (Kaneohe, Hawaii / Waiau Judo Club), 0-1

Men’s 4 44-49 100kg
1. Gregory Causero (FRA)
2. Grzegorz Borowiec (POL)
3. Antonio Boloto (POR)
3. Zauri Badalov (KAZ)
5. Sofiane Bouaissi (FRA)
5. Pedro Benitez (ARG)
7. Roman Martinek (CZE)
7. Kanat Nuralin (KAZ)
Also Competed: Blaine Duhs (Mapleton, Ill. / West Central IL Judo), 2-2
Ramiro Pare (Los Angeles, Calif. / Hollywood Judo Dojo), 1-2
Dan Brecht (Sunset Beach, Calif. / Orange County Judo Training Center), 0-1
Antonio Miranda (McKinney, Texas / Eastside Dojo), 1-1
Louis Galex (Woburn, Mass. / Pedro’s Judo Center), 0-1
Ernesto Gutierrez (Miami, Fla. / Ricardo Tuero Judo Club Inc.), 0-1

Men’s 4 44-49 +100kg
1. Gabriel Nogueira (Worcester, Mass. / Worcester Judo)
2. Chinzorig Bud (MGL)
3. Bayarkhuu Odsuren (MGL)
3. Aurel Gavris (ROU)
5. Hector Negron (Copperas Cove, Texas / MSHQ Judo)
5. Joe Marchand (CAN)
7. Stephen Smith (Chicago, Ill. / Evolution Dojo)
7. Petar Elez (Las Vegas, Nev. / Atlas Grappling)

Men’s 5 50-54 60kg
1. Patrice De Lavau (FRA)
2. Sofiane Djadri (FRA)
3. Ermanno Agostini (BEL)
3. Tim Takahashi (CAN)
5. Hiram Cruz (PUR)
5. Christophe Le Pestipon (FRA)
7. Stephane LeGrand-Belleroche (FRA)
7. Marcos Rossi (BRA)

Men’s 5 50-54 66kg
1. Marcio Barbosa (BRA)
2. Krzysztok Czupryna (POL)
3. Stuart Yamatake (San Jose, Calif. / Silicon Valley Judo School)
3. Leandro Borges (BRA)
5. Shinji Nishio (JPN)
5. Lotfi Khalfi (FRA0
7. Raul Miguel Ortega (ESP)
7. Frederico Guerra (BRA)
Also Competed: Neal Kimo Kodama (Fremont, Calif. / Sekai Judo Club), 0-1

Men’s 5 50-54 73kg
1. Cesar Rocha (BRA)
2. Wagner Oliveira (BRA)
3. Steven Peersmans (BEL)
3. Francisco Rodriguez (PUR)
5. Gaston Paludi (ARG)
5. Vasyl Tudan (UKR)
7. Lindomar Rodrigues (BRA)
7. Vladis Anjos (BRA)
Also Competed: Koji Fukumoto (San Diego, Calif. / Kamikaze Judo), 0-2
Nicholas Rastelli (Grand Island, N.Y. / Kin-Tora Judo Club), 0-1
Tom Valine (Celina, Texas / Eastside Dojo), 0-2
Michael Jung (Bellevue, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy), 0-1
Juan Carlos Zevallos (Raeford, N.C. / Fayetteville/Fort Bragg Judo Club), 0-1
Tzahi Sirak (Folsom, Calif. / Team Sacramento Judo), 1-2
Richard Quinby (Fayetteville, N.C. / Fayetteville/Fort Bragg Judo Club), 1-1

Men’s 5 50-54 81kg
1. Abedias Trindade De Abreau (NCL)
2. David Babise (FRA)
3. Claudio Repetto (ARG)
3. Bugvi Poulsen (FRO)
5. Peter Babjak (CZE)
5. Angel Benavides Plat (ESP)
7. Freddy Avalos (ECU)
7. Randy Imamura (Fresno, Calif. / Fresno Judo Club)
Also Competed: Paul Bridger (Crystal River, Fla. / Gator Judo Club), 0-1
Sandro Endler (Orlando, Fla. / Sasaki Judo), 0-2
Jason Brusky (Dixon, Ill. / Quad City Judo & Fitness), 0-1
Russell Hogan (Wylie, Texas / Eastside Dojo), 0-1
Takanori Miki (San Jose, Calif. / Nakano Judo Academy), 0-1
Ray Marquez (Myrtle Beach, S.C. / Myrtle Beach Judo), 1-2
Jeremy Luescher (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo Club), 1-1

Men’s 5 50-54 90kg
1. Shaun Mark Mitty (GBR)
2. Heiko Koch (GER)
3. Denison Soldani Santos (BRA)
3. Antony Sayers (GBR)
5. Roger Mazzella (Oxford, Mass. / Worcester Judo)
5. Karl Baker (SWE)
7. Batsukh Gelgee (MGL)
7. Rene Zapata (CHI)
Also Competed: Ben Burton (Knoxville, Tenn.), 0-2
Kevin Wang (Flushing, N.Y. / International Judo Center), 0-1

Men’s 5 50-54 100kg
1. Ahmed Hellal Cherrak (CAN)
2. Robert Kaurse (GER)
3. Chris Hohmann (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo Club)
3. Glauber Aragao (BRA)
5. Jambul Mchedlishvili (GEO)
5. Alejandro Centeno (ARG)
7. George Pissimissis (Boston, Mass. / Pedro’s Judo Center)
7. Lionel Lautier (FRA)
Also Competed: Gary Robertson (Tulsa, Okla. / Tulsa Judo and Jiu Jitsu), 0-2

Men’s 5 50-54 +100kg
1. Alexsi Davitashvili (GEO)
2. Ochirbat Tsend-Ayush (MGL)
3. Jens Peter Bischof (GER)
3. Michael Prieditis (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Worktime Judo)
5. Barry Clough (NZL)
5. Wolfgang Weiler (Elk Grove, Calif. / Griffin Judo)
7. Mendikhan Kosdauletov (KAZ)
7. Thierry Bordes (FRA)