Yuri Alvear

Yuri Alvear is widely regarded as the greatest judoka Colombia has ever produced and one of the most influential athletes in the history of South American judo. For more than a decade she was a constant presence at the top of the international scene, combining technical intelligence with fierce determination.

Born in Jamundí, Alvear discovered judo as a teenager and quickly showed unusual potential. Her rise through the international ranks was rapid. By the early 2010s she had already become one of the leading figures in the -70kg category.

Her greatest achievements came at the World Championships where she captured three world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Few athletes dominate a weight category in that way and Alvear added further world medals with bronze in 2015, 2017 and 2018, proving her consistency across multiple Olympic cycles.

The Olympic Games also played a major role in her story. She finished seventh in Beijing 2008, won bronze at the London 2012 Games and then reached the Olympic final in Rio 2016 where she secured the silver medal. Those performances placed Colombia firmly on the global judo map.

Away from the Worlds and Olympics she collected numerous Pan American titles and several big international victories. Among the highlights were gold at the Grand Slam in Baku in 2017 and the Grand Slam in Brasilia in 2019, as well as silver at the 2018 IJF World Masters in Guangzhou.

After the Tokyo Olympic cycle Alvear decided to step away from competition in 2021. She began a new chapter as a coach while also focusing on family life and motherhood, remaining an inspiration for the next generation of Colombian judoka.

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