Gold for SILVA (BRA) as Judoka Looks to Inspire Brazilian Youth

WUHAN (CHN) - After adding another gold to her impressive haul by winning the women's -57kg judo event at the Wuhan University Of Technology Gymnasium on October 19, Olympian Rafaela SILVA (BRA) said she hopes to inspire the next generation of Brazilian sports stars.

SILVA, who captured the hearts of her nation with victory at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and has six world championship medals to her name, was the clear favorite from the start as she worked her way through the preliminaries before taking out Romania's Andreea CHITU in the final.

"Every competition and every medal is special. There is no title more important to me than another," said SILVA who was the silver medalist in this event at the Mungyeong, in Republic of Korea. "I knew I would face high level opponents here so I'm happy with my achievement. All athletes always want to do better than the last time and this gold is proof of my effort."

SILVA began taking judo lessons at the age of five at the Institut Reacao with Brazilian judoka Flavio CONTO, men's 81kg bronze medalist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In 2008, at 16, she won the world junior championships, and in 2013 became the first Brazilian woman to win a judo world title, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Having grown up in one of Rio's most famous favelas – the Cidade de Deus[City of God] - SILVA knows only too well the challenges faced in these tough neighborhoods. When not training she works with disadvantaged young people, encouraging them to seek a better future through sport.

"Once I retire from competition, I plan to dedicate my time fully to working at the institute with these kids and maybe as a coach. I had a dream and [now] I want to help the children of Brazil to achieve their dreams," she said.

SILVA's was one of seven gold medals won on day one of the judo competition, with the others going to China (3), Uzbekistan (2) and Republic of Korea (1).

(Source : SUMOC Executive Committee - Editor WANG Zhijun)