Manaus fighter wins jiu-jitsu championship in New Orleans, United States

soft art

Michel Ribeiro was champion in the heavyweight and absolute categories of the New Orleans International Open 2024

Manaus (AM) – Jiu-jitsu fighter Michel Ribeiro, born in Manaus, participated in the New Orleans International Open 2024, last Sunday (4). The international competition took place at the Pontchartrain Civic Convention Center, in the city located in the state of Louisiana, and Manauara was champion in the heavyweight and absolute categories. The event was held by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), one of the most important world federations in the sport.

The championship held last weekend was considered a World Cup of the sport, as it featured the best active athletes from different continents. Representing the city’s flag, Michel also won titles in the category and absolute at the Austin Open, a championship that took place in the state of Texas, in 2020.

Back in the Land of Uncle Sam, in July 2023, the athlete competed in the American Nationals in Las Vegas, where he reached the podium after winning the bronze medal. Michel also won Gi and No-Gi championships – with Gi fighting with the gi, and No-Gi, without the gi – held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Trajectory

His love for the sport began as a child, but the black belt’s history in the gentle art began at the age of 17 with the encouragement of his sister, Caroline Ribeiro. According to the athlete, before starting to train jiu jitsu, Michel practiced swimming, trained capoeira and practiced wrestling.

Currently, the Amazon native has new challenges and one of them is the 2024 Jiu-Jitsu World Masters, organized by the IBJJF, which will take place in Las Vegas, in the United States. To win the spot, Michel will participate in the Oklahoma City Open, which takes place in April, in the city of Oklahoma, and the Baton Internacional Open, which takes place in May, in the city of Los Angeles, California.

With this CV, the Amazon native went to live outside the country to better prepare himself for the disputes. Michel says he feels fulfilled in qualifying as a professional athlete.

“I’m in one of my best phases as an athlete. Fulfilling another dream. And one more of them will be fighting once again in the biggest jiu-jitsu event in the world, which will be the world championship. With all the way I’ve come so far, I already feel like a champion”,

Michel said.

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