Brazil celebrated a successful start to the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 28, securing multiple medals across judo and skateboarding events. In the women’s 52kg judo category, 25-year-old Larissa Pimenta clinched a bronze medal after defeating Italian world champion Odette Giuffrida in a tense match that went into golden score. Pimenta’s victory came after she rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to French judoka Amandine Buchard.In the men’s judo competition, Willian Lima, 24, secured a silver medal in the 66kg category. Lima, a former swimmer who switched to judo, lost in the final to Japanese champion Abe Hifumi. This marks Brazil’s first Olympic judo medal since 2000.The day’s success extended beyond the judo mat, as 16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal claimed bronze in the women’s skate street event. Despite a shaky start, Leal recovered brilliantly, setting a new Olympic record with a score of 92.88. This is Leal’s second Olympic medal, following her silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.These victories bring Brazil’s total Olympic judo medal count to 26, solidifying the sport’s status as one of the country’s most successful Olympic disciplines. The athletes’ performances have been met with national pride and emotion, with Pimenta stating, ‘It was very special. I’m very happy, ecstatic. Since the moment I stepped onto the mat, I said I deserved it. It was hard to believe in myself, but I did it’.
Key points
- Brazil won multiple medals on the first day of the 2024 Paris Olympics, including bronze in women’s judo and skateboarding, and silver in men’s judo.
- Larissa Pimenta secured a bronze medal in the 52kg judo category after defeating world champion Odette Giuffrida.
- 16-year-old Rayssa Leal won bronze in women’s skate street, setting a new Olympic record.
- These victories bring Brazil’s total Olympic judo medal count to 26.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in reporting Rayssa Leal’s record-setting score.
One source reports it as 92.
88, while another mentions 92.
68.
