Current leader of the world ranking in her category and gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games , Alana Maldonado is one of the most successful athletes in Brazilian Paralympic judo, having been the first Brazilian female judo player to win a gold medal at an edition of the Paralympic Games.
One of the strongest names in the Brazilian delegation at international championships, the judoka has already received six trophies at the Paralympic Awards, held by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB). Among the achievements are:
- “Athlete of the crowd“
- Best judoka
- Best athlete in the sport in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021
- Best female athlete in 2017 and 2018.
To find out more about one of the greatest athletes in Brazilian sport, read on. We’ve created a profile of Alana Maldonado’s career, awards and trajectory.
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Who is Alana Maldonado?
Alana Maldonado is a Brazilian paralympic athlete, born on July 27, 1995, in the city of Tupã, São Paulo. She competes in judo for people with visual impairments and is classified in category B2. Alana is the first Brazilian judoka to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020).
As well as being one of Brazil’s biggest names in Paralympic judo today, Alana is known for her resilience, mental strength and dedication to the sport. Without a doubt, her story is an inspiration to many, both on and off the mat.
What is Alana Maldonado’s story?
Alana Maldonado was born with a rare condition called Stargardt’s disease, a degenerative condition that affects the central vision, causing progressive loss of sight.
The diagnosis came when she was 14, but she had been practicing judo since the age of 4.
In 2014, however, when she entered college, she discovered paralympic judo, and with the support of her family and coaches, she dedicated herself intensely to judo, training hard to improve her skills and compete at a high level. At this stage, she began competing in regional, national and international tournaments.
Just two years later, in 2016, she won the silver medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio, making sporting history.
What are Alana Maldonado’s main achievements?
Paralympic judoka Alana Maldonado’s list of main titles includes:
- Gold at the Baku 2022 World Championships
- Gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
- Silver at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games
- Gold at the 2018 World Championships in Portugal
- Silver at the 2018 World Cup in Turkey
- Gold at the 2019 and 2017 World Cup in Uzbekistan
- Silver at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
With such enormous talent, it’s only a matter of time before this list grows. We’re cheering her on.
What events does she compete in?
Alana Maldonado competes in judo for the visually impaired, specifically in the category up to 70kg (middleweight).
In paralympic judo, the categories are defined by both the weight and the visual classification of the athletes.
Alana, classified as B2, competes in national and international tournaments, including world championships, Paralympic Games and Parapan American Games.
Her events are contested using specific Paralympic judo rules, adapted for visually impaired athletes, where the initial contact between the competitors is made before the fight begins.
| Both the men’s and women’s categories have four weight divisions: Men’s: up to 60 kg | up to 73 kg | up to 90 kg | over 90 kg Women’s: up to 48 kg | up to 57 kg | up to 70 kg | over 70 kg Classes according to degree of visual impairment: – J1: Totally blind or with light perception, but without recognizing the shape of a hand at any distance – J2 : Athletes who can define images |
What are Alana Maldonado’s records?
As we have seen, Alana Maldonado’s career has been marked by impressive achievements. Among her main records and titles are:
- Gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: Alana became the first Brazilian judoka to win Paralympic gold in the up to 70kg category.
- Silver medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games: In her first Paralympic appearance, Alana demonstrated her talent by winning silver.
- Two-time Paralympic Judo World Champion: Alana is one of the few athletes to have won two consecutive world titles, establishing herself as one of the best judoka in the world.
- Multiple Parapan American champion: Alana has won several gold medals at the Parapan American Games, making her one of the most successful athletes in the history of the event.
Read also: TOP 10 Best paralympic athletes in Brazil today: strong names for the Olympic podium
Curiosities about paralympic judoka Alana Maldonado
In addition to her brilliant judo career, Alana Maldonado has some interesting facts about her life:
- Alana made history by being the first Brazilian woman to win a gold medal in paralympic judo, a feat that further elevated women’s judo in Brazil.
- Alana is seen as a great inspiration for young visually impaired athletes. She often participates in motivational talks and events, where she shares her life story and encourages others to believe in their dreams.
- Alana is very active on social media, such as Instagram @alanamaldonadooficial, where she shares her training routines, achievements and personal moments. She uses her platform to promote Paralympic sport and raise awareness about inclusion.
- Despite her high-level sporting career, Alana has always valued education. She graduated in Physical Education and believes in the importance of combining sport with studies.
Alana Maldonado is one of the biggest names in paralympic judo in Brazil and around the world. With a career marked by great achievements, including the historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020, she is a source of pride for Brazil.
Now that you know more about Carol Santiago’s story, take the opportunity to learn all about the careers of other Brazilian sporting idols:
- Petrucio Ferreira: titles and records of the paralympic athlete
- Gabriel Araújo: career of the Paralympic swimming multi-champion
- Carol Santiago: the multi-time Paralympic swimming champion!🥇
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