Paula Pareto

Paula Pareto is one of the most iconic athletes in Argentine sport and a pioneer for judo in South America. Competing in the U48kg category, she built a remarkable career that combined Olympic success, world titles and consistency at the highest level.

Her greatest moment came at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 where she captured gold and made history for Argentina. It was the peak of a journey that had already included an Olympic bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. She later competed once more at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, finishing seventh before bringing her career to a close in 2021.

Pareto was also a dominant force at World Championships level. She became world champion in 2015 in Astana, took silver in 2014 and added another bronze medal in 2018 in Baku. Around those years she was one of the most consistent fighters on the international circuit and held the number one position in the IJF World Ranking in both 2015 and 2016.

Across the IJF World Tour she collected more than fifteen major titles. Among them were victories at the Cancun Grand Prix in 2018 and the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam in 2019, confirming her status as one of the most reliable performers of her era.

Outside the tatami, Pareto earned admiration for another reason. A qualified doctor, she worked in the medical field during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Tokyo Olympic Games opening ceremony she carried the Argentine flag, a symbolic moment recognising both her sporting achievements and her contribution beyond sport.

When she retired in 2021, Paula Pareto left behind a legacy that extended far beyond medals. She helped place Argentine judo firmly on the global map.

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