Taking part in the Olympic Games for the first time, Beatriz Souza made history and won a gold medal for Brazil in Paris. Beatriz was the judo champion in the over 78-kilogram category. Bia, as she is known, fell in love with the sport at the age of seven when she watched her father, a former judoka, train for the first time. Now 26, she has a career filled with victories and achievements. Joca Club participants Bernardo B., age 10, and Sofia V., age 11, interviewed the athlete to find out more about her career and what it was like for her to win her first Olympic gold medal.

Where did the idea to take up judo come from?

My father introduced me to judo, he’s a former judoka. I was hyperactive as a child, and my parents were looking for a way for me to burn off that energy. I fell in love with the sport after my dad took me to the first training session. I started training at seven.

Were there any challenges that nearly made you give up the career?

Without a doubt, injuries and being away from my family are my biggest challenges. At the same time, my family is what motivates me – knowing that they believe in me and that I’m struggling every day for them.

Did the coaches make you work harder because of the Olympics?

The whole Olympic cycle is geared towards the goal of securing a spot at the Games and winning an Olympic medal, which is every athlete’s dream. So the entire training is aimed at that, but I’d never trained as hard as I did for Paris.

How was your training during and before the Olympics?

There was a lot of planning on the club’s part, in terms of competing and training, so that I could be at my best.

What were your biggest fears and challenges during the Games?

I had no fears, I was super-confident and motivated, I just wanted to enjoy the competition and the trip as much as possible. I wanted to make the day of my fight feel like my amusement park.

How does it feel to win Brazil’s first gold medal at your first Olympics?

It’s an unexplainable feeling, I’m very happy to have won a gold medal in my first Olympic Games. I gave up a lot to live a dream and I was able to make it come true.

Apart from sport, do you have another job? If so, what do you do?

Today I make a living from judo, I have no other work but my dedication to it.

Do you get any support to be a judo athlete? If so, from whom?

Yes, today I’m an athlete for Esporte Clube Pinheiros, the Brazilian Judo National Team, and I’m part of the army’s high-performance athletic team, with the rank of third sergeant. I also have an athletic scholarship (Bolsa Atleta), and the support of my sponsors. [Bolsa Atleta is a government program that provides financial aid to high-performing Olympic and Paralympic athletes.]

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