From the Caribbean to Paris: Ana Smelyn’s dream

The elite athlete must always be open to drastic changes to progress in their sports career. This was what happened to Ana Smelyn Rosaa Dominican judoka who had to pack her bags in her country to embark on the project of the Dominican Judo Federation and the Judo Federation of the Valencian Community.

This program consisted of the landing in the city of Turia of different judokas so that they could be trained in the CAR of Valencia. So it happened and they were a total of nine judokas that they came Four men and five women who, for six years, have been training as elite athletes.

Almost all my Dominican teammates and I have climbed to the podium of the Spanish Championship, but now we can no longer

At first, they competed for their country and also represented the Judo Federation of the Valencian Community in national competitions. However, with the passage of time, this fact has changed. Ana Smelyn Rosa won two silver medals in the -57 kg category of the Spanish Championship in the 2018 and 2021 seasons.

“Almost all my Dominican teammates and I have been on the podium of the Spanish Championship on various occasions, but now we can no longer. Only if we present ourselves independently, but because of political issues, it is not possible. Even so, in the Judo Federation of the Valencian Community treat us great and we continue in the CAR”, says Anna.

The 25-year-old judoka leaves next week for The Savior where he will play from June 24 the Central American Games; one of the many scoring events for the Olympic Games. “This year I have to get good results to be able to go to Paris, it’s my dream as an elite athlete”, assures the athlete.

The Olympic Games are the highest aspiration of an elite athlete, I hope to go and be able to compete

Currently, it is in position 68 of the world ranking in its category and, to access the next Olympic Games, you should be in the top-30. The athlete is going to give everything to achieve it. “Is the highest aspiration of an athlete. I want to go to the Games and also compete, not just participate”, says Ana Smelyn.

Will defend title in Chile

The judoka must maintain the points it has in the world ranking and achieve new milestones in the competitions that remain in this pre-Olympic year. One of the events where he will defend the most points will be the Pan American Games of which she is the current champion. He was crowned in Lima 2019 and four years later, he will defend the title in Chile.

I feel prepared to achieve my goals and be able to represent my country in the Olympic Games

“It will be difficult to repeat the result, but judo is very constant. It depends on each day, how you are physically and mentally. Being a contact sport, injuries are always on the surface and you have to take great care of yourself. I feel prepared to achieve my goals and be able to represent my country in the Olympic Games”, ends Ana Smelyn Rosa.