Pan 2023: In an exciting fight, Giullia Penalber beats the Canadian in the final and wins gold in wrestling | pan-American Games

Brazilian wrestling achieved its second gold medal in the history of the Pan-American Championship. Giullia Penalber was champion in the under-57kg freestyle category this Thursday, beating Canadian Hannah Taylor by tiebreaker after 6-6 in both rounds.

The fight started more studied with little action in the first minute, but a take down from the Brazilian and an immediate response from the Canadian put the score at 2-2 before the end of the first round. In the second stage, the athletes went on the attack, but with Giullia’s momentary passivity, the score was 3-2 against the Brazilian. However, as soon as the fight resumed, the Brazilian made a 4-point takedown and opened 6-3. From then on, the Canadian’s strategy was to take Giullia off the mat, a move achieved on three occasions, making it 6-6. But the Brazilian ended up with the gold, because in the tiebreaker criteria, as she made the most valuable take down.

Guilherme Costa analyzes Brazil’s medal chances this Thursday at the Pan

Giullia Penalber arrived at Pan 2023 as one of the main favorites in the category, but got scared right on her debut. In a fight valid for the quarterfinals, American Xochitl Mota-Pettis led 5-0 right from the start. However, the Brazilian managed to land a tackle afterwards, ending the fight. In the semifinal, Giullia beat Cuban Angela Alvarez. The beginning was tied, until the Brazilian managed to project her opponent, managing to pull over.

Brazil’s first gold came at the 2015 Pan, in Toronto, won by Joice Silva in the under-58kg freestyle category. In addition to these two golds, Brazil has six silvers and seven bronzes.