Silver Awarded in 2013, Maria Suellen Altheman States She Is Prepared to Win This Year's World Judo Championship
The team has arrived in Paris today for the acclimatization stage before the Chelyabinsk 2014 World Judo Championship, which will be held from August 25th to 31st. The 18 athletes will be staying in this city until 21st, when they board to Russia. Maria Suellen Altheman is one of the prominent names of the group. Silver awarded in the World Judo Championship held in 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, the judoka says she is prepared to win.
The current second placed in the world ranking of the heavyweight category (+ 78kg), the Brazilian is the head-key of the competition, which means fighting first against less well ranked opponents. The current world and Olympic Champion, Idalis Ortiz, the leader of the world ranking, is one of Maria Suellen’s biggest opponents, but for being also a head-key, she will face the Brazilian only in a possible final.
Although she is not neglecting the other opponents, the Brazilian keeps an eye on the Cuban. "Japan will have two strong athletes in my category; one will be on my side of the key, while the other on the Cuban. Idalis is my main opponent, so I have prepared according to her fighting style. I have worked on my psychological side as well, since it is what has made a difference when we met, “the judoka said.
Maria Suellen turned 26 years old last Tuesday (12th) and said she wanted the medal as a birthday present on August 30th, the day when she will be competing in Chelyabinsk. "I wish the title as a birthday present, because I feel physically and psychologically prepared for this. No matter who will be my opponent in the end, either the Japanese or the Cuban again, I wish to reach the decision and win, "she stated.
