Derek Mangi, from Garden City, won the gold medal in his division at the Pan American Games Juijitsu tournament held on October 4th at the Nat Holman Gymnasium on 138th Street in Manhattan. Mangi, competing in the Purple Belt heavyweight division, submitted all three of his opponents. The Pan American Games, which holds annual tournaments in this sport, is open to athletes from North, South and Central America, and is the most prestigious tournament in the sport.

The host this year was the International Brazilian Juijitsu Federation. Mangi, a graduate of Garden City High School and Hofstra University, has won numerous regional tournaments over the past three years, and was ranked 10th in the country in 2008 by the North American Grappling Association among men age 18-31.

Derek is a physical fitness and martial arts instructor.