Brazilian judoka
Not to be confused with Rafael Silva (judoka)
Lopes and the second or paternal family name is Silva.
In this Portuguese 2️⃣ name , the first or maternal family name isand the second or paternal family name is
Rafaela Lopes Silva (born 24 2️⃣ April 1992) is a Brazilian judoka.
She won gold medals at the World Judo Championships of 2013 and 2022 and at 2️⃣ the 2016 Summer Olympics in the –57 kg weight division.
Currently, she occupies the graduation third sergeant in the Navy of 2️⃣ Brazil and integrates the Center of Physical Education Admiral Nunes (CEFAN), the Military Sports Department.[citation needed]
In August 2013, she was 2️⃣ the first Brazilian woman to become a world champion in Judo.
[citation needed]Biography [ edit ]
Rafaela Silva grew up in the 2️⃣ Rio de Janeiro slum known as Cidade de Deus.
The first sport she liked was football, practicing against other children in 2️⃣ a dirt field near her home in Jacarepagua.
Because they were concerned with fights and violence in the streets, when Rafaela 2️⃣ was 7 years old her parents[2] Luiz Carlos and Zenilda Silva signed her up, together with her sister, Raquel, for 2️⃣ judo classes at the Institute Reaction, newly fitted at Cidade de Deus the former athlete Flávio Canto.
"I started judo in 2️⃣ 2000, early in the project.
My father put me in the sport as an alternative to fighting in the street.
In Judo, 2️⃣ I found discipline, I respect the other and began to take the sport seriously.
Judo showed me the world.
With the resources 2️⃣ I get, I guarantee my support and help my family pay the bills."
Judo career [ edit ]
Rafaela Silva, owner of 2️⃣ a gold medal of the Summer Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro for a victory in competitions in judo.
Silva 2️⃣ won her first major medal by claiming silver at the 2011 World Judo Championships in Paris.
[3] During the 2013 World 2️⃣ Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Silva became the first Brazilian woman to ever win a gold medal for her 2️⃣ country in a World Judo Championship after defeating American Marti Malloy in the final.
[4] She repeated the feat at the 2️⃣ 2016 Summer Olympics by defeating Mongolian Sumiya Dorjsuren in the final.[5]
At the 2012 London Olympics, Silva was disqualified for an 2️⃣ illegal leg grab during a fight against Hedvig Karakas of Hungary.
[6] Upon returning home, she became depressed.
In December 2012, she 2️⃣ was a bronze medalist at the Judo Grand Slam Tokyo (category up to 63 kg).
Silva won gold and bronze in 2️⃣ 2019 Pan American Games and 2019 Judo World Championships, respectively, but tested positive for fenoterol after the former tournament.
[7] Despite 2️⃣ testing negative in the World Championships, she was banned from competition for two years by IJF and stripped of both 2️⃣ medals.
[7] Silva appealed the sanction, but the CAS upheld the ban in late 2020.[7]
Mixed martial arts career [ edit ]
Being 2️⃣ temporarily banned from judo, Silva opted to transition to mixed martial arts.
She is currently training at PFL athlete Joilton Santos' 2️⃣ gym Peregrino Fight Academy with UFC athlete Cláudio Silva and is expected to compete in the Flyweight division.[8]
Personal life [ 2️⃣ edit ]
In an interview with Globo Esporte, Rafaela came out as gay.
She spoke about her girlfriend Thamara Cezar, whom she 2️⃣ met via judo.
[9][10][11]References [ edit ]
Media related to Rafaela Silva at Wikimedia Commons
