John William Smith is an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach. Smith was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, and a six-time world level champion with two Olympic Championships and four World Wrestling Championships. Smith is the only American wrestler ever to win six consecutive World and Olympic championships as a competitor. At the end of his competitive career, Smith had won more World and Olympic gold medals in wrestling than any other American. Smith was widely known for his low single leg takedown, and is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time.
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games and commonly known as Rio 2007, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in 47 disciplines. During the Games, 95 new Pan American records were set; 2,196 medals were awarded; 1,262 doping control tests were performed and about 15,000 volunteers participated in the organization of the event, which served as an Olympic qualification occasion for 13 International Federations (IFs).
Carlos Roberto Rocha Gallo, known as Carlos, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in football at the 1975 Pan American Games.
Nalbert Tavares Bitencourt, known as Nalbert, is a Brazilian former professional volleyball player.
Mijaín López Núñez is a Cuban retired Greco-Roman wrestler. Widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, López is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time World Champion, and five-time Pan American Games champion. He is the younger brother of Michel López Núñez, a Cuban amateur boxer. On 3 July 2024, he and the Cuban judoka Idalys Ortíz were designated as the flag bearers for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Washington Luís da Silva is a Brazilian amateur boxer best known to participate in the 2004 Olympics and qualifying for 2008 at light-heavyweight. He is the uncle of Hamilton Ventura but only five years older.
Carlos Arturo Tejeda Rivera is a volleyball player from Venezuela, who won the gold medal with the men's national team at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic playing as a wing-spiker. In the final his team defeated Cuba 3-0.
Wayne Turner Wells is an American wrestler and Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling at the 1972 Olympic Games. Wells was born in Abilene, Texas and grew up in Oklahoma. In 1982, Wells was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.
Daniel Adler is a Brazilian sailor. He is Jewish. His father Harry Adler and brother Alan Adler were also sailing Olympians.
Maik Ferreira dos Santos is a Brazilian handball goalkeeper for Al-Rayan and the Brazilian handball team.
João Gabriel Schlittler is a Brazilian judoka, who played for the heavyweight category. In 2007, he won a silver medal for his designated category at the Pan American Games, and bronze at the World Championships, coincidentally in his home city. Schlitter stands 1.97 metres tall and weighs 110 kilograms (243 lb). He is also currently a member of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a famous sport club in Rio de Janeiro.
Ildar Shavkatovich Hafizov is an Uzbekistani-American Greco-Roman wrestler of Tatar heritage, who competes in the featherweight category (60 kg). 2011 Asian and 2021 Pan American Championships runner-up, 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist.
Luis Felipe Vivénes Urbanesa is an amateur Venezuelan freestyle wrestler, who played for the men's heavyweight category. He won two medals each for his division at the Pan American Games, and at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Yagnier Hernández is an amateur Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler, who played for the men's featherweight category. He won a gold medal for his division at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Venezuela's Jorge Cardozo.
Luis Ygnacio Liendo is an amateur Venezuelan Greco-Roman wrestler, who competes in the men's lightweight category. He won two bronze medals for the 60 kg division at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Liendo also defeated United States wrestler Joe Betterman for the gold medal in the same division at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, earning him a spot on the Venezuelan wrestling team for the Olympics.
Erwin José Caraballo Cabrera is an amateur Venezuelan Greco-Roman wrestler, who competes in the men's heavyweight category. He won two bronze medals for the 96 kg division at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Caraballo also defeated Mexico's Joel López for the gold medal in the same division at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Caraballo is a member of the wrestling team for La Puente Sporting Club, and is coached and trained by Milcho Radulovski.
Axel Frederik Preben Schmidt was a Brazilian sailor from Rio de Janeiro who competed in the Summer Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, the Snipe World Championships, the Star World Championships and the Lightning World Championships.
Erik Oluf Preben Schmidt is a Brazilian sailor who competed in the Summer Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, the Snipe World Championships, the Star World Championships and the Lightning World Championships.
Cezar Bononi is a Brazilian professional wrestler, actor and Fitness coach. He is also known for his time in WWE NXT and AEW Dark.
Adrian Jaoude is a Brazilian professional wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and former amateur wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Arturo Ruas. Previously, he has also wrestled for Evolve. Prior to entering pro wrestling he was an amateur wrestler and represented his country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
