The tatami at the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 came alive on its final day of karate, delivering a showcase of technique, courage, and exceptional combat. In a very intense finale at the Combat Center located at the High Performance Center (CAR), representatives from Ecuador and Venezuela claimed the gold medals, cementing their status as continental youth karate powerhouses.
Ecuador reaches the top in Men’s -61 kg
The Ecuadorian delegation celebrated in style thanks to the flawless performance of Jaykel Bucaram. In a heart-stopping final, Bucaram demonstrated remarkable tactical superiority to defeat Argentina’s Santiago Gallardo, securing the gold medal for his country in the -61 kg kumite category.
The men’s podium was rounded out with a diverse balance, reflecting the growth of karate across the region:
Gold: Jaykel Bucaram (Ecuador)
Silver: Santiago Gallardo (Argentina)
Bronze: Leonardo Vargas (Bolivia)
Bronze: Ahysmar Petterson (Panama)
Venezuela takes gold in Women’s -53 kg
In the women’s division, the standout performance of the day came from Venezuela’s Annabella Acevedo. In the -53 kg final, Acevedo showed no mercy and won with a dominant 9-0 score over local athlete Dessire Frías. With this victory, Venezuela reaffirms its golden tradition in martial arts.
Despite the loss in the final, Panama’s Dessire Frías earned a highly valuable silver medal for the host nation and was applauded by the crowd in attendance.
With these results, the karate combat competitions at Panama 2026 officially conclude, leaving a medal table shared among several nations.
| Category | Gold🥇 | Silver🥈 | Bronze🥉 |
| Men’s -61 kg: Jaykel Bucaram (ECU) | Santiago Gallardo (ARG) | L. Vargas (BOL) | A. Petterson (PAN) |
| Women’s -53 kg: Annabella Acevedo (VEN) | Dessire Frías (PAN) | V. Carvajal (COL) | A. Moncada (ECU) |
