Brazil Wins Six Medals at the Paralympic World Judo Championships

The weekend was an opportunity for celebration for the Brazilian Visually Impaired Team. The team who competed in the Paralympic World Judo Championships in Colorado Springs, United States, won four bronzes with Karla Cardoso (48kg), Lucia Teixeira (57kg), Deanne Adams (70kg +) and Wilians Araújo (100kg +). On Saturday, in the competition by teams, the Brazilian male team became the champion whereas the Brazilian female team was vice-champion.  

Fifth placed in London 2012 Paralympics, Deanne Adams lost in the semifinal and she needed to forget her defeat in order to get a place on the podium. And so she did. With the victory, the athlete is already making plans. "After the fifth place in London 2012 Paralympics, when I lost the bonze, I feel like I have just overcome myself. So this is the first step towards Rio 2016 Paralympics, in which I will surely participate to get the gold medal, “Deanne Adams said.

The young Wilians Araujo, 22 years old, seemed overwhelmed with emotions after defeating by ippon Ilham Zakiyev from Azerbaijan and take home the bronze. "This is the fruit of six years of effort with Jucinei and with Antonio (coaches) started in 2008. Our goal was winning a medal in a World Championship. This is the result of our work with Jaime (Bragança), Garcia (Alexandre), Caio (Paolillo), besides all the people of the technical committee, the CBDV for giving me this opportunity and Time Rio, for letting me devote fully to sport, " Wilians said quite moved.

Gold and Silver For the Brazilian Teams

On Saturday the men's and women's teams competed in the competition by teams. Both men and women reached the final and, coincidentally, they faced Russia. But the result was not the same for both. The men won by 3-2 due to the victory of Rayfran Pontes, Halyson Boto, and Antonio Tenorio, and he took home the gold. The women got the silver after their defeat by 3 to 2. Despite the defeat, the women's team had already defeated Japan’s and Turkey’s counterparts.

Veteran in the team and with an enviable background, the Paralympic four-time champion Antonio Tenorio commented on his performance in the competition by teams. "I was just doing my job, which was winning that fight. Judo is a sport mainly individual, but we need each other to train and when we get together as a team we have to help and support each other", said Tenorio, who made the decisive fight against Russia.