Out Brazilian judoka Alana Maldonado is a Paralympic champion once again.
Maldonado secured her second straight Paralympic gold medal in the -70kg J2 category Friday in dominating fashion, defeating China’s Wang Yue to close out the day’s events on the tatami.
The two-time world champion wasted little time, taking Wang down to score a wasa-ari within the first 30 seconds of the match. Maldonado nearly ended the match shortly after with a wrenching choke but couldn’t get her arm fully under Wang’s chin.
The two jockeyed for position for another two minutes, nearly earning both shidos (penalties in judo) for passivity. They kicked at each other’s legs as they looked for an opening before Maldonado stunned Wang with a throw that planted the 2020 bronze medalist on her shoulder to score the Brazilian’s second wasa-ari and give her the ippon win.
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After Maldonado tried to pin Wang after not realizing the referees had awarded her the second wasa-ari, the two-time Paralympic gold medalist rose to her feet holding up two fingers on each hand to signal her accomplishment.
Friday’s result also represents a personal triumph for Maldonado beyond medals. Her gold medal win comes one year after a torn ACL knocked her out of competition for most of 2023.
The Brazilian now boasts three Paralympic medals in as many Games, adding a silver in Rio to her two gold medal performances. There also could be a switch at the top of the world rankings. Wang and Maldonado entered Friday’s final ranked first and second respectively, but Maldonado’s win could be enough to push her into the coveted world number one spot.
