# Podium Proof: Panama Carves Out a Niche in High-Stakes Costa Rican Sambo

**By Rosa Delgado**  \nPublished August 1, 2026  \nUpdated August 1, 2026

> Amidst the dominance of host Costa Rica and regional giants like Venezuela and the USA, Panama's Emilia García and Rodolfo Waithe have secured vital silver and bronze medals.

In the high-octane environment of the Polideportivo Monserrat in Alajuela, the 2026 Pan American SAMBO Championships have proven that the gap between the continent's established powers and its rising challengers is narrowing. While the spotlight has frequently swung toward the overwhelming dominance of the host nation, Costa Rica, and the technical depth of Venezuela and the United States, Panama has successfully staked its claim on the podium, proving they are no longer mere participants in the regional hierarchy.

## The Panamanian Breakthrough

For the Panamanian delegation, the tournament in Costa Rica has been defined by precision and grit. In a field crowded with elite continental talent, two athletes managed to break through the noise to secure vital hardware for their nation.

- **Emilia García:** Demonstrated exceptional technical skill in the 65 kg category of Combat Sambo, fighting her way to a hard-earned silver medal.
- **Rodolfo Waithe:** Showcased the tactical discipline required for Sport Sambo, securing a bronze medal in the 98 kg weight class.These results are particularly significant given the composition of the Panamanian squad. Alongside García and Waithe, the team included **Gregorio Gallardo** (79 kg Combat Sambo) and **Carlos Gamboa** (79 kg Sport Sambo), all of whom were tasked with measuring themselves against the absolute best in the Americas.

> Panama obtains silver and bronze metals in the 2026 Pan American Sambo Championship

## A Continental Landscape of Parity and Power

To understand the weight of Panama’s achievement, one must look at the sheer caliber of the opposition. The championships have been a showcase of three distinct disciplines—Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO, and Beach SAMBO—each demanding a different physiological and tactical approach.

Costa Rica, leveraging home-mat advantage, has turned the tournament into a historic campaign. The nation's success has been headlined by the extraordinary **Reina Córdoba**, who secured a double gold, winning both her Sport and Combat Sambo titles in the -65 kg division. Other Costa Rican standout performances include **Esteban Brenes**, who claimed gold in the -88 kg category, and **Nicole Castro**, who dominated the -80 kg Combat Sambo division.

Beyond the hosts, the tournament has highlighted several recurring themes in the Pan American Sambo landscape:

NationKey Performance Indicator**Venezuela**Dominance in women's Sport Sambo divisions.**USA**Consistent strength across both Sport and Combat modalities.**Costa Rica**High-volume medal count driven by home-field support.**Panama**Effective podium presence in both Sport and Combat disciplines.

### Tactical Divergence: Sport vs. Combat

The 2026 championships have underscored the tactical split that defines the sport. The Sport Sambo victories, such as those seen from **Rodolfo Waithe**, rely heavily on throws, projections, and ground control. Conversely, the Combat Sambo achievements, like **Emilia García’s** silver, necessitate a much broader defensive and offensive toolkit to manage the increased physicality of the discipline.

This versatility was a hallmark of the tournament. While Venezuela’s **Stephanye Zavarella** and **Neilys Alejandra Borregales** asserted dominance in the Sport division, the Combat arena saw a diverse spread of medals, including contributions from the United States and various Central American nations, ensuring that no single country could claim total monopoly over the mats.

As the dust settles in Alajuela, the message from the Pan American circuit is clear: the era of predictable podiums is fading. Panama's ability to secure medals in two distinct disciplines suggests a growing depth in their national program that will be difficult for regional rivals to ignore in future cycles.

## Sources

- [sambo.sport](https://sambo.sport/en/news/rezultaty-2-go-dnya-chempionata-panameriki-po-sambo-2026-v-kosta-rike/) — original
- [Graficos Deportivos](https://graficosdeportivos.com/costa-rica-hace-historia-en-panamericano-de-sambo/) — original
- [Redacci\u00f3n | 10Deportivo@epasa.com | @10Deportivo](https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/deportes/panama-obtiene-metales-plata-y-bronce-en-el-campeonato-panamericano-de-sambo-2026-1264055) — original
- [Acord Colombia](https://acordcolombia.com.co/america-comenzo-la-disputa-por-los-titulos-panamericanos-de-sambo-en-costa-rica/) — original
- [Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte](https://www.gob.mx/conade/prensa/plata-y-bronce-para-mexico-en-el-campeonato-panamericano-de-sambo-en-panama) — original
- [Diseño, HTML y Applets: Julieta de Lourdes Romero, Perl, CGI y JavaScript: Raúl Pérez](https://portal.critica.com.pa/archivo/12132004/spo12.html) — original
- [Diseño HTML: Rodrigo Yanis; Perl, CGI y JavaScript: Amed Zamora](https://portal.diaadia.com.pa/archivo/12112004/dep09.html) — original