Colombian Angel Barajas won the gold medal in parallel bars on April 12, 2026, in the Croatia World Cup, adding another title to his international career. In the same final session in Osijek, the 19-year-old also earned a bronze medal in the horizontal bar. These accomplishments further consolidate his status as a consistent gymnast on the world circuit.
Barajas secured the parallel bars gold with a 14.866, outscoring American Donnell Whittenburg (14.600) and Turkish gymnast Ferhat Arıcan (14.333). Analysts attributed the victory to Barajas’ superior transitions and strength-to-handstand holds, a performance that reinforces his elite standing on his signature apparatus.
“Reaching the top of the podium again is the result of constant work,” Barajas stated after the ceremony. He added that Colombia can compete at the highest technical level in Europe. His words reflect the confidence of a generation that has transformed the country’s sporting history.
Colombian Angel Barajas won the gold medal in parallel
This victory follows several successes in the 2026 World Cup series. Barajas first made history this March in Baku, Azerbaijan. He became the first Colombian to win World Cup gold in parallel bars with a 14.600. Weeks later, the gymnast maintained momentum in Antalya, Turkey, where he secured silver medals in both horizontal and parallel bars. These consecutive achievements paved the way for his latest victory.
His performance in Osijek concluded with a third-place finish in the horizontal bar. There, he recorded 14.833 points. Barajas shared the podium with Taiwan’s Tang Chia-Hung, who took gold with 15.233, and Kazakhstan’s Milad Karimi, who earned silver with 14.933. This result highlights his ability to remain competitive across multiple apparatuses.
Olympic legacy and ranking dominance
Barajas achieved global recognition in 2024. He won the silver medal in horizontal bar at the Paris Olympic Games. While the Olympic podium brought him fame, he qualified for the Games based on his ranking in the parallel bars event. This dual mastery remains the cornerstone of his professional career.
With his victory in Osijek, the Colombian has mathematically clinched the overall 2026 World Cup series title. He holds the top spot in parallel bars with 85 points. This achievement confirms him as a world leader in this specialty.
The FIG confirmed Osijek as the final stop of the 2026 series. Originally, the circuit included a final event in Doha, Qatar. However, the event was cancelled due to regional instability and military conflict in the Middle East. The cancellation forced the FIG to close the rankings based on the four completed stops. This secured Barajas’ position as the undisputed champion of the season.
The athlete will now return to Colombia for a specialized training cycle. He plans to refine his routines before the next major international championships.