Colombian gymnasts Vera and Barajas win gold and silver at Pan American Championships

Colombian gymnasts Camilo Vera and Ángel Barajas have emerged as stars at the Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rio de Janeiro, clinching the gold and silver medals in the men's all-around competition. The impressive performance by the young duo signals a significant rise in Colombian gymnastics talent on the international stage.

Vera secured the top spot with a total score of 81.265 points, showcasing strong performances across all apparatus. His teammate, Barajas, who had led the competition for much of the event, ultimately finished with the silver medal, earning 80.765 points. Barajas's medal hopes were impacted by a fall on his final apparatus, the high bar, which cost him valuable points.

The bronze medal went to veteran American gymnast Yul Moldauer, who scored 78.865 points. The performance of Vera and Barajas, both just 19 years old, is particularly noteworthy as this marks their debut in the senior Pan American championships. Their success builds on previous achievements, with Vera having won three gold medals at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games and Barajas earning two golds at the 2023 Junior World Championships.

In the women's all-around competition, American gymnast Claire Pease took home the gold medal with a score of 54.498 points. Her compatriot Charleigh Bullock secured the silver with 54.032 points, and Brazil's Thais Fiselis claimed the bronze with 52.232 points. The championships continue with apparatus finals, where Olympic champion Rebeca Andrade is expected to compete.