Five Medals for Team USA at the 2026 Lima Grand Prix

Team USA delivered a historic performance at the 2026 Lima Grand Prix, earning five medals across the first two days of competition in Peru.

Maria Laborde, Jonathan Yang, Christopher Velazco, Jack Yonezuka and Johan Silot all reached the podium, giving the United States two silver medals and one bronze on opening day before adding another silver and bronze on day two.

Maria Laborde opened the medal count for Team USA with silver in the -48kg category.

Laborde advanced all the way to the final, where she faced reigning World Champion Assunta Scutto of Italy. The silver marked another major international result for the experienced American and her third career Grand Prix medal.

At just 19 years old, Jonathan Yang continued his rise through the international ranks with his first career IJF World Tour Grand Prix medal.

Competing at -60kg, Yang put together a 3-1 performance in Lima to reach the final and claim silver behind Brazil's Michel Augusto.

The result adds another important milestone for one of the exciting young athletes coming through the U.S. program.

There was even more success for the team in the -60kg division, with Christopher Velazco joining Yang on the podium.

Velazco secured bronze for his first career Grand Prix medal, giving Team USA two athletes on the -60kg podium alongside gold medalist Michel Augusto and fellow bronze medalist Andrea Carlino of Italy.

World No. 5 Jack Yonezuka continued his strong 2026 season with silver in the -73kg category.

Yonezuka went 3-1 in Lima to earn his third career Grand Prix medal and his second Grand Prix medal of the year. He finished behind Moldova's Vlad Mitru, with Giovanni Esposito of Italy and Guilherme de Oliveira of Brazil taking bronze.

The result adds another World Tour podium to what has already been a strong international season for the 22-year-old American.

Johan Silot returned to familiar territory in Peru, earning bronze in the -81kg category.

Silot defeated Italy's Vincenzo Pelligra on his way to his second career Grand Prix medal. His first also came in Lima, where he captured silver at the inaugural edition of the event in 2025.

This time around, Silot returned to the podium with bronze, continuing to establish himself in a competitive -81kg division.

Team USA closed out the Lima Grand Prix on Day 3 with a seventh place finish from Alex Semenenko in the +100kg category. The 21-year-old heavyweight finished seventh, adding another strong international result to his 2026 season.

With LA 2028 on the horizon, there is still plenty of work ahead, and Hatashita Sports is  proud to be part of the journey.

Congratulations to all of our athletes on an incredible weekend in Lima,Peru.