Sarah C Firme Galvao of Atos Jiu Jitsu delivered a dominant performance at the Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026 on October 4, securing an impressive double gold in both the Middle and Open Class divisions. The world No. 7 ranked black belt, with an Elo rating of 2183, added two more prestigious titles to her remarkable career tally of 71 golds from 81 medals.
Galvao's Double Gold Dominance
Galvao’s path to Open Class gold saw her navigate a competitive bracket with three decisive victories. She commenced her campaign by defeating unrated opponent Sa'idah Zeinab Durkee in the opening round. Advancing to the semi-final, Galvao overcame Julia Maele, an opponent with an Elo rating of 1021 and ranked outside the top 32,000 globally, marking a routine win. In the final, Galvao clinched the Open Class title by defeating another unrated competitor, Maria Vitoria G Ruffatto-Gilpin.
In the Middle division, Galvao continued her golden run. She secured her place in the final by defeating Julia Maele in the semi-final, a routine win. On her way to securing the gold, she also overcame Nadia Frankland, who holds an Elo rating of 1096 and is ranked outside the top 6,600. These victories underscored her exceptional skill and strategic prowess across multiple divisions at the elite black belt level. Her recent gold medal haul also includes titles at the American 2026 (Light), Orange County Spring 2026 (Open Class and Light), European 2026 (Light), and Orange County Winter 2026 (Light) championships, showcasing her consistent high-level performance throughout the year.
Leyva's Light Feather Triumph
Also representing Atos Jiu Jitsu, Emily Lynn Leyva claimed gold in the Light Feather division at the Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026. With an Elo rating of 1598 and a world rank of 121, Leyva demonstrated her class in a smaller bracket, securing the title with two well-fought victories. In the semi-final, she defeated Cathryn Ivy Millares, an opponent with an Elo rating of 1103 and ranked outside the top 6,000, a routine win for the seasoned black belt. Leyva then faced Karen Martinho Cerqueira Terra in the final, an opponent with an Elo rating of 1221 and ranked outside the top 1,600, securing her gold medal. This victory adds to Leyva's impressive record of 63 career golds from 95 medals. Her consistent success in the Light Feather division is evident in her recent golds, which include the CON 2026, American No-Gi 2026, American 2026, European 2026, and World 2026 championships, all in the Light Feather category.
Crevar's Super Heavy Victory
Helena Crevar, representing Kingsway Jiu Jitsu, also stood atop the podium at the Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026, earning gold in the Super Heavy division. Crevar, with an Elo rating of 1591 and a world rank of 126, showcased her dominance in a smaller field, winning two matches to secure her title. Her journey to gold began with a semi-final victory over Bridgett G Brumbaugh, an opponent with an Elo rating of 838 and ranked outside the top 155,000, a routine win. In the final, Crevar defeated Sara Jeanine Resetar, who holds an Elo rating of 984 and is ranked outside the top 116,000, to claim the Super Heavy gold. Crevar's remarkable career boasts 54 golds from just 56 medals, highlighting an exceptionally high winning percentage. Her recent successes include golds at the CON No-Gi 2026 (Super Heavy), Dallas Summer No-Gi 2026 (Super Heavy and Open Class), and Austin Summer No-Gi 2026 (Open Class and Heavy) events, underscoring her versatility and consistent performance in the heavier divisions.
Sarah C Firme Galvao — route to gold
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Opening round | Sa'idah Zeinab Durkee | Won |
| Semi-final | Julia Maele | Won |
| Semi-final | Nadia Frankland | Won |
| Semi-final | Julia Maele | Won |
| Semi-final | Nadia Frankland | Won |
| Final | Maria Ruffatto-Gilpin | Won |
Match results and Elo from bjjmetrics. Rounds are shown where the IBJJF order of fights recorded them.
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