The 2019 Pan Am Games were held in Lima, Peru and Karate competition was scheduled to take place on the last 3 days. The Canadian delegation included 4 athletes and 2 of them came back with silver medals. Kathryn Campbell (Fredericton, NB) won silver in women’s -55 kg kumite, as did Daniel Gaysinsky (Vaughan, ON) in men’s +84 kg  kumite division.

Kata was back on the Games program after a 16-year hiatus and it was the first event on the schedule. Rita Ha Thi Ngo (Vancouver, BC) was the first Canadian to take to the mats in women’s individual kata. In her first round, Rita finished second in her pool with a score of 24.40, which allowed her to move to the ranking round. Ngo then placed third in her pool and therefore qualified for one of the bronze medal matches. She unfortunately lost against 3-time Pan Am Championships bronze medallist Andrea Armada Ruiz from Venezuela. Ngo placed in the top 5 at her first Pan Am Games.

The next day was busy for Canada as the remaining 3 athletes were all competing. Haya Jumaa (Mississauga, ON) finished the women’s -61 kg kumite round robin with a 1-1-1 record and placed third in her pool, which meant she would not advance further.

Kathryn Campbell, in women’s -55 kg kumite, finished second in her pool after losing 2 bouts and winning 1. She moved on to semi-finals versus Paula Ivonne Flores (MEX), whom she beat 4-1 and secured her spot in the finals. Campbell faced world top 7 -ranked Valeria Kumizaki (BRA), for a repeat of the 2015 Pan Am Games gold medal match. In the end, Campbell took home the silver for her second Games in a row!

In men’s +84 kg kumite , Daniel Gaysinsky finished first of his pool with 2 wins and 1 draw (versus American Brian Irr). He then breezed through semi-finals with an 8-0 win over Diego Lenis from Columbia, to face off with Irr again in the finals. Gaysinsky lost his last match, but took the silver medal in his division!

“Karate Canada has capped an excellent Games with two silver medals. Kate is a repeat silver medalist from Toronto 2015. Daniel missed the 2015 Games due to injury so this is some excellent compensation” says Karate Canada’s President, Mr. Craig Vokey who was also present in Lima.

For full results of the competition, please visit the Pan Am Games website.

Photos: Vincent Ethier / COC