Arturo Silot Torres Wins Gold to Close Cuba's Five-Title Haul at the Pan American Wrestling Championship

May 12, 2026

Cuban freestyle wrestler Arturo Silot Torres capped Cuba's participation at the Pan American Wrestling Championship in Coralville, Iowa, on May 10, 2026, claiming the gold medal in the 97-kilogram category and sealing a dominant performance by the Cuban delegation.

Silot Torres, the top seed in the senior division, confirmed his status as the clear favorite by defeating local contender Stephen L. Buchanan II — the second seed — by a score of 15-4 via VSU1 (technical superiority), finishing the final in just 3 minutes and 24 seconds.

His path to gold was equally dominant. In the quarterfinals he crushed Puerto Rico's Edwin N. Morales 11-0 (VSU) in just 1 minute 41 seconds, and in the semifinals dispatched Dominican Republic's Luis M. Pérez Sosa 10-0 (VSU) in 2 minutes 13 seconds — a showcase of relentless offensive wrestling throughout.

With that title, Cuba concluded the tournament with five gold medals, two silvers, and two bronzes, with nine of the ten Cuban wrestlers who competed reaching the podium.

The Greco-Roman contingent led the way with gold from Kevin de Armas Rodríguez (60 kg), Luis Alberto Orta Sánchez (67 kg), and Gabriel Alejandro Rosillo Kindelán (97 kg), complemented by silvers from Daniel Grégorich Hechavarría (87 kg) and Oscar Pino Hinds (130 kg).

Men's freestyle contributed two golds, from Geannis Garzón Tamayo (74 kg) and Silot Torres (97 kg). The women's contingent added bronze medals from Yaynelis Sanz Verdecia (57 kg) and Milaimy de la Caridad Marín Potrillé (76 kg).

Born on March 13, 2001, in Santiago de Cuba, Arturo Silot Torres is one of Cuba's brightest prospects in freestyle wrestling. He began in judo — a family tradition — before switching to wrestling, and counts among his titles the gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games, silver at the 2022 Senior Pan American Championship, and victory at the 2024 Spain Grand Prix.