Andy Granda returns with gold at the Florida Pan American Open as Iván Felipe Silva also wins

November 2, 2026

Andy Granda could hardly have asked for a better comeback. The 2022 world judo champion from Matanzas won gold in the over-100-kilogram division at the Pan American Open in Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, in his first tournament since the injury that forced him to miss the world championships in Baku. He beat the Dominican Republic's José Nova Alcántara in the final, Cuba's ACN news agency reported, citing International Judo Federation results.

On the same day, Iván Felipe Silva won the 100-kilogram title by beating another Dominican, Robert Florentino, in the final after getting past American Caedmon Haddad, Luxembourg's Micha Welter and the Philippines' Chino Sy. Both earned 100 ranking points toward the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

On Saturday, Jonathan Charón (60 kg) and Orlando Polanco (66 kg) had already won gold, while Lianet Cardona (78 kg) and Dayanara Curbelo (+78 kg) took silver, according to Radio Habana Cuba. With four golds and two silvers, Cuba finished second in the medal table behind Venezuela.

Before the trip, Granda said the goal was to "go for the gold medal." His next stop is the Montreal Open, scheduled for November 7-8.