Salem siblings golden in IBJJF Pan Kids champs

Siblings Nickole and Mattheo Salem are golden in their respective divisions of the IBJJF Pan Kids American Championship last June 29 in Florida.

Young, but already highly decorated martial artist Nickole, bagged gold out of 12 competitors in the Pee-Wee 2, gray belt, featherweight division.

Silver was Maite Akeakamai Alexander, while tied for bronze were Esther Louise da S. Rocha and Pearl Rosalind McConnell.

For Mattheo, a gray belt, he won gold in the Mighty-Mite 2 light-feather, 39.60-lb division. He beat out Eli Broly Rivero who settled for silver.

Nickole, at 7 years old, has recently won her third world title after winning the 2024 USA Wrestling Kids Nationals in South Carolina last June.

Mattheo, at just 5 years old, has competed in over 10 competitions and has 17 medals so far. He said of the sport, “Doing the techniques are great and easy and I have a lot of fun”.

For older sister Nickole, who took a short break from competing said, “it’s my second home and it’s nice to see my friends again.”

She’s competing in the ADCC Youth Championships this Aug. 16. It’s the first Youth World Championship in ADCC history. Nicko Salem, their father said, “Super proud she’s going to be a part of it.”

Nicko is a U.S. Marine and a 2012 graduate of Saipan Southern High School, while his wife and Nickole’s mother, Maria Victoria, is an alumnae of Marianas High School. They now reside in Charleston, South Carolina.