Catarina Costa and Miguel Gago Claim Bronze in Peru

Portuguese judokas Catarina Costa and Miguel Gago both secured bronze medals at the Lima Grand Prix in Peru, competing in the -48 kg and -66 kg categories, respectively.

Catarina Costa, an Olympian who competed at Tokyo 2020 and is set for Paris 2024, began her campaign with a first-round bye. The athlete, currently ranked 42nd globally, won both her pool matches, defeating Peru's Bianca Gonzales and Germany's Sarah Ischt.

Costa's path to the final was halted in the semi-finals by Italy's Assunta Scutto, who ultimately went on to win the gold. However, in the bronze medal match, Catarina Costa decisively defeated Paraguay's Gabriela Narvaez with an ippon, securing her spot on the podium.

Miguel Gago, ranked 50th in the world in the -66 kg category, also had a notable performance. The Portuguese judoka won his first two bouts against Bolivia's Emiliano Paz and Mexico's Robin Jara, but was defeated by waza-ari in the quarter-finals by Ecuador's Jonathan Benavides.

Relegated to the repechage, Gago seized the opportunity to contend for a medal. He overcame Canada's Julian Frascadore and, in the decisive bronze medal match, defeated local athlete Franco Baltazar to clinch Portugal's second medal of the competition.