Brazil won their first gold medal of the Rio Olympics as Rafaela Silva triumphed in the women’s 57kg judo.Brazil won their first gold medal of the Rio Olympics as Rafaela Silva triumphed in the women’s 57kg judo.
Silva defeated world number one Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia by Waza-ari to delight a partisan crowd at Carioca 2.
The gold medal marks a fairytale rise to Olympic triumph from a childhood in Rio’s notorious ‘City of God’ favela for Silva.
“Judo is my life,” said Silva. “I love competing at home, because of the fans. Their cheering helps a lot.” And she added: “I hope that this medal opened doors for more medals this week.”
