Rafaela Silva, who grew up in Rio’s notorious City of God slum, sparked pandemonium as she won Brazil’s first gold of the Games in the women’s under-57kg judo.
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Quadros’s worldwide career was cut short by the emergence of Silva, 24, in 2011 when she took silver medals at the world championships and Pan-American Games.
Rafaela Silva has dealt with plenty of haters during her judo career – including racist, online bullies hailing from her own country.
Portugal’s Telma Monteiro and Japan’s Kaori Matsumoto won bronze. Find us on Facebook too!
United States breaststroker Lilly King on Sunday aimed her comments and finger wag at Russia’s Yulia Efimova, the world champion who was approved to compete at the Rio Olympics only Saturday after a previous ban for doping. Silva bested Corina Caprioriu in her semifinal match to advance to the final. Her win also carried a heavier, emotional significance. “I dedicate this medal to the Brazilian people, my family, my friends”.
“I hope my medal now will open the door for Brazil to win many more medals”, Silva said after her win, according to the Associated Press. She crushed her own world record in the 400 freestyle Sunday night, touching almost 5 seconds ahead of her closest pursuer.
‘Everybody here knows Rafaela’s history, ‘ said Eduardo Colli, a Brazilian fan watching the final in the stands.
The neighborhood where Silva is from was “pacified” which means the police were able to take control, but drug trafficking and violence have flared again recently.
After the sensational win, Silva told journalists that this was an appropriate answer to all the people who humiliated her. “People mocked me but I showed everyone that my place belongs in the Judo ring”, said the 24 year old who was born in the known favelas of Brazil and raised in poverty. The final may have been against world no. 1 fighter Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia.
Silva only began competing in judo, when she began training with Athens 2004 medallist Flavio Conto in Rio.
Officials said they hoped to counter the top players’ absence by winning over converts.
The withdrawals have hurt the sport, especially with world number four Rory McIlroy saying he probably would not even watch the Olympic golf but would only tune in to “the stuff that matters” such as athletics, swimming and diving.
“Just got a couple hours of sleep, but I think that was probably going to be my hardest swim of the week so I’m glad it’s over with”. Dorjsuren is the world’s best-ranked judoka and had won four of the last five fights against Silva.
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“I don’t think I’ll ever forget Matteo presenting to a group of formidable International Olympic Committee members in English – not his first language – at the tender age of 16”, Dawson said.
