Paula Pareto

Paula Belén Pareto (born 16 January 1986) is an Argentine judoka and physician.[2][3]

Paula Pareto
Pareto in 2016
Personal information
Full namePaula Belén Pareto
NationalityArgentine
Born (1986-01-16) 16 January 1986[1]
San Fernando, Argentina[1]
Height148 cm (4 ft 10 in)[1]
Sport
CountryArgentina
SportJudo
Event(s)–48 kg
ClubEstudiantes, La Plata[1]

Biography

Paula, nicknamed "La Peque" (The small one) was born in San Fernando, Argentina.[1] She lives with her parents in Tigre, close to the capital city. She began swimming at the age of four and a year later she took up gymnastics. Her inspiration for judo arose when she was 9, and her younger brother Marco came home from school beaten up. Her father Aldo used to practice judo when he was young so he decided to send Marco in a judo club. Paula was curious and wanted to go too.

Her first judo club was Club San Fernando. She very soon won her first tournament and when she decided to continue practising judo she moved to bigger Club Estudiantes de La Plata. First years she competed in the −44 kg division but later moved up to the −48 kg category.

She is a big football fan and also plays football with her friends. She had a time period in her life when she wanted to play football professionally but she left the idea thereafter to pursue her judo career. Her favorite club is Boca Juniors and her home club Estudiantes de La Plata.

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in an interview said that she is single and her mother Mirta commented that it was like "You are engaged to judo".[4]

Paula has a younger brother called Marco who is supporting her on her journeys around world tournaments and an older sister called Estefanía who is a psychologist.[5]

She studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires and graduated in March 2014.[6]

In November 2010, Paula was granted the Platinum Konex Award as the best Sportwoman of the last decade in Argentina. In December 2015, she received the Gold Olimpia Award as the best athlete of the year from her country.

She was the flag bearer for her country at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Judo

She won the bronze medal at 2008 Summer Olympics in one of the most dramatic matches of whole tournament. She stood against Pak Ok-Song from North Korea. The Korean judoka was active whole match and got a koka in middle of the match for activity. Drama came in last 10 seconds when Pak began a technique but Paula made use of it for her technique, which was a counter to the Korean's move. Problems arose when the jury counted the technique for Pak, perhaps because she began to move first. In the end Pak celebrated the medal and Paula cried but her trainer Carlos Denegri lodged an objection so the jury checked the video. Finally they agreed that it was Pareto who made the technique (Kuchiki-taoshi) and so she took the medal.[7]

She is also very successful on continental games and championships like Pan American Games.

In August 2015, Paula won the gold medal at the World Judo Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, her first world title. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Paula defeated Jeong Bo-kyeong to capture her first Olympic gold medal.[8]

Achievements

YearTournamentPlaceWeight class
2005Pan American Judo Championships 2ndSuper Extra-Lightweight (−44 kg)
2006Pan American Judo Championships 5thExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2006South American Games 2ndExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2007Pan American Judo Championships 5thExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2007World Judo Championships 5thExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2007Pan American Games 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2008Pan American Judo Championships 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2008Olympic Games 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2009Pan American Judo Championships 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2010South American Games 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2010Pan American Judo Championships 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2011Pan American Judo Championships 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2011Pan American Games 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2012Olympic Games 5thExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2013Pan American Judo Championships 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2014South American Games 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2014World Judo Championships 2ndExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2014Pan American Judo Championships 3rdExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2015Pan American Judo Championships 2ndExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2015Pan American Games 2ndExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2015World Judo Championships 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2016Pan American Judo Championships 2ndExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2016Olympic Games 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2017Pan American Judo Championships 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)
2018Pan American Judo Championships 1stExtra-Lightweight (−48 kg)

References

  1. Paula Pareto. sports-reference.com
  2. Judo at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games: Women's Extra-Lightweight. sports-reference.co
  3. IJF profile
  4. "HISTORIA DE MUJERES – Para Ti Online". 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. "Diario Perfil | PAULA PARETO, BRONCE – Toda la felicidad envuelta en un cuerpo de muñeca". 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  6. "Paula Pareto, Judo Argentino". 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  7. Judo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Women's Extra-Lightweight. sports-reference.com
  8. Sartori, Hernán (6 August 2016). "Paula Pareto hizo historia en Río y Argentina tiene su primer oro".
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