Paula Pareto

Paula Belén Pareto (born 16 January 1986) is an Argentine retired She was the flag bearer for her country at the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She was the first Argentinian woman to become Olympic Champion having won gold at the women's 48 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Biography Paula, nicknamed "La Peque" (The small one), was born in San Fernando, Argentina.

Paula has a younger brother named Marco, who supports her on her journeys around world tournaments, and an older sister named Estefanía, who is a psychologist.

She studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires and graduated in March 2014.

In November 2010, Paula was granted the Platinum Konex Award as Argentina's best sportswoman of the last decade. In December 2015, she received the Gold Olimpia Award as the best athlete of the year from her country.

In 2024, Pareto became a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Judo Pareto won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. She stood against Pak Ok-song from North Korea, Pak was active the whole match and earned a koka for her activity. The drama unfolded in the last 10 seconds when Pak initiated a technique, but Pareto countered with her own move, a Kuchiki taoshi. Problems arose when the jury counted the technique for Pak, perhaps because she began to move first. In the end, Pak celebrated the medal, and Pareto cried, but her trainer Carlos Denegri lodged an objection, so the jury checked the video. Finally, they agreed that it was Pareto who made the technique (Kuchiki taoshi), and so she took the medal.

Pareto is also very successful in continental games and championships like Pan American Games.

Pareto won the gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in August in Astana, Kazakhstan, her first world title. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Pareto defeated Jeong Bo-kyeong to capture an Olympic gold medal.

Achievements Year Tournament Place Weight class2005 Pan American Judo Championships 2nd Super Extra-Lightweight (−44 kg)2006 Pan American Judo Championships 5th Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2006 South American Games 2nd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2007 Pan American Judo Championships 5th Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2007 World Judo Championships 5th Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2007 Pan American Games 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2008 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2008 Olympic Games 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2009 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2010 South American Games 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2010 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2011 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2011 Pan American Games 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2012 Olympic Games 5th Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2013 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2014 South American Games 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2014 World Judo Championships 2nd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2014 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2015 Pan American Judo Championships 2nd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2015 Pan American Games 2nd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2015 World Judo Championships 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2016 Pan American Judo Championships 2nd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2016 Olympic Games 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2017 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2018 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)2018 World Judo Championships 3rd Extra-Lightweight (−48 kg)