Mayra Aguiar makes history winning the third world judo championship

Mayra Aguiar, from Rio Grande do Sul, made history this Tuesday (11) by winning the unprecedented third world judo championship for Brazil.  The feat occurred at the World Judo Championships in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), after Mayra defeated Chinese Zhenzhao Ma, by waza-ri, in the middleweight final (78 kilos).  The World Championship continues on Wednesday (12) with the fights of the heavyweights (+78kg and +100kg) Rafael “Baby” Silva and Beatriz Souza, with live broadcasting on the Brazilian Olympic Channel website. The qualifiers start at 3am (Brasília time) and the finals at 9am. 

After today’s achievement, the Brazilian adds up to a total of seven world championships: gold (2014 and 2017), silver (individual in 2010, and team in 2013), and bronze (2011, 2013, and 2019). Mayra also collects three Olympic bronzes (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020).

On her way to securing her third championship, Mayra Aguiar, the current world number six, opened with a victory over Croatian Petrunjela Pavic. After that, she beat the Kazakh Aruna Jangeldina with ippon. In the quarterfinals, she beat Olympic champion Hamada Shori (Japan). With her spirits high, the Brazilian went to the semifinals against German Alina Boehm, European champion, and won one more time, ensuring her presence in the final against Chinese Zhenzhao Ma.