LIMA, PERU – Gabriela Cross struck gold for Canada at the 2026 U23 Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships, leading a five-medal haul for the national team in Lima, Peru. The Calgary wrestler captured the 57kg title as Canadian athletes combined for one gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the event June 11-13.

Cross, from Dinos WC, was in a round robin at 57kg and went an impressive 4-0, including three wins by fall. She defeated Puerto Rico, Peru, USA, and Brazil to claim the medal.

“Winning this medal shows me how much closer I actually am to achieving my long-terms goals,” said Cross, after winning the medal. “It proves to me that I am making strides no matter how hard this sport is and I need to take all the wins I can get.”

Women’s results

Also on the women’s side, Ottawa’s Heaven-Lee Emond captured a silver medal at 65kg. The National Capital WC member went 2-2, with wins over Peru and Ecuador and her only losses coming to the gold medalist from the USA.

Rounding out the medals for the women was Maple Ridge, British Columbia’s Ivy Threatful at 50kg. Threatful, from Coast RTC, went 3-1 at 50kg to earn bronze.

The rest of the women’s results were: Saskatoon’s Abby Wolff fourth at 55kg; St. Catharines, Ontario’s Vanessa Keefe fourth at 68kg; Saskatoon’s Taebyn Tulp fourth at 72kg; Saskatoon’s Sierra Mullin fifth at 53kg; and Hamilton’s Olivia Lichti seventh at 59kg.

Men’s results

On the men’s side it was Abbotsford, British Columbia’s Jorawar Dhinsa capturing his second silver medal in as many months. The Burnaby Mountain WC member earned silver in May at the Senior Pan-Ams and replicated the feat at the U23 event. He went 3-1 in a round robin at 125kg, defeating Puerto Rico, Columbia, and Mexico.

Meanwhile, Burnaby, British Columbia’s Owen Gudmundson scored a bronze medal at 86kg. Gudmundson, also from Burnaby Mountain WC, earned round robin victories over Brazil and Peru before defeating Mexico for the bronze.

Rounding out the men’s results were: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan’s Donovan Neudorf fourth at 65kg; Richmond, British Columbia’s Adam Mohaidly fifth at 70kg; Calgary’s Joseph De Maio fifth at 92kg; Longueuil, Quebec’s Moise Abdul Ahmid seventh at 74kg; and  Calgary’s Zakir Ibrahimkheil eighth at 57kg.

For complete tournament information visit the tournament site. Matches can be streamed on UWW+.