Paula Pareto, a double Olympic medalist in judo and who announced his retirement from activity in Tokyo, “It is a source of inspiration for generations to come and leaves a legacy beyond sport,” said Laura Martinel, his coach from 2012 to 2021, who announced that the Peque “will be in decision-making spheres.”
“Argentina is aware of what Paula meant and means. It was distinguished and recognized throughout the country. She is a public figure, people recognize her wherever she goes and not only recognize her, they love her, “said Martinel in an interview with the agency Telam.
Martinel, seventh at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games in the 66 kilos category, current president of the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) and winner of the silver medal at the Havana Pan American Games, was Daniela Krukower’s coach (-63kg. ) when he achieved the gold medal at the 2003 Osaka World Cup, Japan, and then worked with Pareto from 2012 until his retirement.
Pareto won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016; she was the winner of the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, 2011; silver in those of Toronto, Canada, 2015; and conquered the 2015 World Cup that was played in the city of Astana, Kazakhstan, by defeating the Japanese Haruna Asami in the final. In addition, “Peque” achieved the bronze medal in the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, 2018 and the silver medal in the Chelyabinsk, Russia, 2014.
-What legacy did Pareto leave for national sport and specifically for Argentine judo?
– I think he not only leaves a legacy for the sport. Clearly Paula is a source of inspiration for generations to come. Let them make their dreams come true, as long as they strive to achieve them, the achievements come as a reward for the efforts made to achieve them. Only (and neither more nor less) they must be willing and willing to make sacrifices, to handle themselves with discipline and to do everything with great passion to achieve what they want. To the athletes in particular, he leaves them with his example, that they can forge a future while competing in high performance, that they can study a university degree, whatever they want, and be champions. Judo lets him have given birth to one of the best athletes in the world recognized not only by the International Judo Federation but also by the International Olympic Committee.
-Do you notice that it will continue to be linked to the national teams?
“I’m not just warning, we’re going to force her!” As a joke, she wants to stay connected with the national team and I think it is very important that she does so.
– Argentine sports can afford not to have it in some sphere of decisions?
-The Argentine sport has no margin to indulge in luxuries. Undoubtedly it will be in decision-making spheres.
-As a coach, what let you work so many years together? Regardless of the achievements, which are valuable, what values do you rescue from your work together?
-Although we knew each other since she began to integrate the team, I worked with Daniela Krukower fundamentally (from 2000 to 2009, the year she retired). It was in October 2012 that we started working together. In our work together I highlight an accumulation of values that gave shape to our bond such as trust, commitment, giving everything, concentration on objectives, a winning mentality, fair play and respect. We both bring those values. It was always a round trip, something mutual. In some coach-athlete relationships these values are not always bidirectional. I firmly believe that as coaches, we can not only demand from athletes, we must also demand from ourselves. The most genuine thing is that we contribute everything.
-Did an athlete like Pareto push you limits as a coach?
-The work we did together was about overcoming the limits of both. Paula pushed the limits for me and I pushed them for Paula because we were both looking for the same thing: excellence.
-Will the void it leaves be difficult to fill?
-I don’t feel like it leaves a void, I think it leaves a full house. Yes, it is true that there will not be another Paula, but she left a path marked for others and other athletes to follow the path to success, not only in sports, but also in their lives and as good people.
-What future do you see for national judo? What do you see in the “seedbed”?
-There is a group of young people who have a good competitive future, among women, Keisy Perafán (25 years old) stands out in Paula’s category precisely, who already has two Pan-American medals (silver and bronze) and this year she fought for a medal in the Senior World Championship (fifth place). On the men’s side we have a very talented young man, Agustín Gil (20 years old), who made important achievements in his age category, such as being the U-18 World Runner-up in 2017, the 2017 U-18 Pan-American Champion and the U-18 South American Champion. -21 2021 among others.
-Will you continue in the selected one? What is your future
-I am head coach in the Argentine Judo Confederation and I continue to work on that with great effort. In fact, I didn’t even have a few days off after Tokyo. I am also aware that I closed a cycle and I am going to give myself space to rethink from what other places I can contribute my experience.
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