The Pan American Athletics Championship is set to transform Medellín into the athletics capital of the Americas from June 26 to 28, as over 400 athletes from across the continent descend on the Estadio Alfonso Galvis Duque to compete for continental glory — and for coveted spots on the road to the Pan American Games Lima 2027. Panam Sports Channel will be the official channel for this competition.
Confirmed by the Pan American Athletics Association, the championship carries historic weight: winners across all 50 scheduled events — 24 men’s, 24 women’s, and two mixed — will earn direct qualification to the 2027 Pan American Games in Peru. With Lima 2027 drawing closer by the day, every race, every jump, and every throw in Medellín carries stakes that extend far beyond the podium.
A World-Class Stage
The Estadio Alfonso Galvis Duque is undergoing a major transformation ahead of the event. A brand-new purple track surface — inspired by the iconic Paris Olympic venue — is approximately 50% complete, accompanied by modernized throwing areas, a renovated warm-up straight, upgraded international broadcast lighting, and sweeping improvements across the facility. Medellín is not just hosting a championship; it is building a landmark.
The event also carries World Athletics Category A status, meaning athletes will earn critical points toward qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing — adding yet another layer of significance to every performance on Colombian soil.
The Athletes
With 407 athletes from 28 nations registered, this edition of the Pan American Athletics Championship stands among the most competitive in this kind of event.
Host nation Colombia leads all delegations with 55 athletes — 29 men and 26 women — competing in front of their home crowd in Medellín. The pressure and the passion will be immense as Colombian athletes chase podium finishes and Lima 2027 berths on their own soil.
Among the headliners, Brazil — one of the continent’s powerhouse nations — has confirmed a 30-athlete delegation, split equally between men and women, featuring some of the highest-ranked competitors in the World Athletics standings. Leading the charge are Caio Bonfim, world champion in race walking, and sprinting standout Ana Carolina Azevedo, one of South America’s premier 100m and 200m competitors.
The United States brings a roster built for championship moments. Olympic gold medalists, world champions, and Diamond League winners headline a 27-athlete delegation anchored by Muhammad and Tausaga. Relay gold medalist Lynna Irby-Jackson, hammer throw finalist Janee Kassanavoid, Paris Olympic silver medalist Shelby McEwen in the high jump, and javelin Pan American champion Curtis Thompson round out a squad that could dominate the medal table.
Canada sends a formidable 30-athlete team anchored by some of the nation’s brightest stars. Sprinter Eliezer Adjibi, current World Relay champion, headlines the men’s side, while the women’s squad features Olympic finalist Audrey Leduc in the 200m, World finalist Jillian Weir in the hammer and World Bronze medalist Lauren Gale in the 400m.
Chile competes with 18 athletes, including discus and shot put specialist Claudio Romero and hammer thrower Gabriel Kehr among the men, a women’s sprint relay squad eager to leave their mark on the continental stage.
Beyond the major nations, the championship reflects the full breadth of Pan American athletics. The Dominican Republic sends 36 athletes, Venezuela 33, Mexico 36, and Puerto Rico 29. Smaller delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and the U.S. Virgin Islands round out a field that represents every corner of the Americas.
The Big Stars of Medellín
Every great championship has its marquee names, the athletes whose presence alone elevates the entire event. Medellín 2026 has several, but three stand above the rest.
Dalilah Muhammad – The Queen of the Hurdles
Few athletes in the history of track and field have dominated the way Dalilah Muhammad has dominated the 400 meters hurdles. A former world record holder with a personal best of 51.59, Muhammad arrives in Medellín as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a two-time world champion, having swept both the individual 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. A two-time Diamond League champion as well, Muhammad is the defining figure of her generation in her event. Now ranked in the top five in the world, she brings a wealth of championship experience.
Laulauga Tausaga – The World Champion with Something to Prove
When Laulauga Tausaga won the discus world title in 2023, she announced herself as one of the most powerful throwers on the planet. Currently ranked fourth in the world with a personal best of 70.72 meters, Tausaga brings elite credentials to Medellín and will be heavily favored to claim Pan American gold in her event. Her combination of raw power and technical precision makes her one of the most compelling field athletes in the hemisphere, and her performance in Colombia could serve as a springboard toward an even bigger 2027 season with the World Championships in Beijing on the horizon.
Caio Bonfim – The Pride of Brazil and a World Champion on Home Soil
No athlete will carry more continental weight into Medellín than Caio Bonfim. The Brazilian race walker is the reigning world champion in his discipline — a title that cemented his place among the greatest walkers the Americas have ever produced. A decorated Pan American Games competitor who has spent years representing Brazil on the biggest stages in the sport, Bonfim arrives in Medellín not just as a gold medal favorite, but as a living embodiment of what this championship represents: the pursuit of excellence across the Americas.
How to Follow the Action
Sports fans across the Americas won’t have to miss a single moment. Every event from the Estadio Alfonso Galvis Duque will be broadcast live and completely free on the PANAM SPORTS CHANNEL — the exclusive home of the Pan American Athletics Championship Medellín 2026. Follow Panam Sports’ official social media channels for real-time highlights, results, and behind-the-scenes content straight from Colombia.
For three days, Medellín will be the center of the athletic world. Don’t miss it.
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