Paula Pareto, from Buenos Aires, Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016, is willing to green laurels in Argentine judo at these Tokyo 2020 Games, which will begin this Friday 23 a year later than planned, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 35-year-old orthopedic doctor who attends the Hospital de San Isidro, will try to preserve the highest place on the podium that she achieved in Brazilian territory five seasons ago, when she begins to compete in the category up to 48 kilograms.
The also winner of the bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in the same division, admits not having the same preparation as she had to participate in the Rio event.
The Covid-19 virus lurked as one more rival and became an almost permanent obstacle, in addition to spinal injuries that made it difficult to prepare
“Little by little we are trying to recover the level, although we are far from how it was in Rio de Janeiro. In training at home I have improved,” said the judoka, who during 2021 got fifth place in the Grand Prix of Turkey, disputed in Antalya, last April.
‘Peque’ Pareto arrived almost two weeks ago in the city of Sakai and became one of the “advanced” athletes of the Argentine delegation in Japanese territory.
Along with her arrived her coach Laura Martinel, her sparring partner Camila Marcelet and the kinesiologist María José Domínguez, the members of her work team.
“In reality, I am only the visible face of a teamwork that I am proud of” highlighted the one born in San Fernando, in a note reproduced by the ESPN signal.
It will be the fourth Olympic experience for the ‘Peque’ who, in addition to bronze in Beijing and gold in Rio de Janeiro (he won the final against South Korean Jeong Bo Kyeong), obtained fifth place in London 2012, winning the diploma.
The Buenosairean also accumulates three medals in the Pan American Games, since she won gold in Guadalajara 2011; silver in Toronto 2015 and bronze in Rio de Janeiro 2007.
In addition, he climbed to three podiums in different stages of the World Cups. Pareto achieved the gold medal in Astana (Kazakhstan) 2015; She was second in Chelyabinsk (Russia) 2014 and finished third in Baku (Azerbaijan) 2018.
Another representative of the Albiceleste judo who will enjoy a new Olympic opportunity is Emmanuel Lucenti.
The 36-year-old from Tucumán, entered the square due to its location in the world ranking (46th. In the division up to 81 kilograms), last June.
Lucenti will compete, in this way, for the fourth time in an event of this magnitude, since he previously competed in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016.
“I am grateful to have this new opportunity. I surpassed myself, less than three years ago I was on the brink of retirement because of how my back hurt. I recovered. I am enjoying everything and I hope to do it more in the Games,” warned the Tucuman, in statements to the website of the National Sports Secretariat. (Télam)
