Junior Pan American Championships: Brazil wins men's team title, Maestas second all-around

November 7, 2:41 AMGymnastics ExaminerBlythe Lawrence

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The countdown to 2016 has begun for the Brazilian men.

Brazil won the men's team competition at the Junior Pan American Games, defeating the United States and Columbia 253.95-253.4-245.95. Canada finished fourth with 241.05. All four countries qualified teams to next year's Youth Olympics, which will be held in Singapore.

Brazil's Sergio Sasaki Junior, fresh off participating at last month's World Championships, won the all-around (86.85) over the U.S.'s C.J. Maestas (86.65) and Brazilian teammate Petrix Barbosa (85.0). U.S. junior standout Sam Mikulak finished fourth (84.55). Maestas was the top qualifier to Sunday's still rings and pommel horse finals. Mikulak qualified for event finals on everything except rings.

Other members of the U.S. team -- Jake Martin and Jesse Glenn -- finished 11th and 15th, respectively, in the all-around. Martin will compete on pommel horse in event finals.

Aside from two-time World floor champion Diego Hypolito, the Brazilian men have not made too many waves in men's gymnastics. But with Rio de Janeiro being chosen as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazilian gymnastics -- along with numerous other sports -- is bound to get a good boost.

Brazil qualified only one man to event finals at the 2009 World Championships. Arthur Zanetti tied for fourth on still rings. Hypolito finished ninth on floor, narrowly missing the event final.

Sam Mikulac, 2009 Junior Pan American Championships, High Bar: