1. Paula Belen Pareto was born on 16 January 1986 and is an Argentine retired judoka and physician.
18 Facts About Paula Pareto
1. 2.
Paula Pareto was the flag bearer for her country at the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
3.
Paula Pareto was the first Argentinian woman to become Olympic Champion having won gold at the women's 48 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
4.
Paula Pareto began swimming at the age of four, and a year later, she took up gymnastics.
5.
Paula Pareto soon won her first tournament, and when she decided to continue practicing judo, she moved to bigger Club Estudiantes de La Plata.
6.
Paula Pareto is a big football fan and plays football with her friends.
7.
Paula Pareto had a period when she wanted to play football professionally, but she left the idea to pursue her judo career after that.
8.
Paula Pareto has a younger brother named Marco, who supports her on her journeys around world tournaments, and an older sister named Estefania, who is a psychologist.
9.
Paula Pareto studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires and graduated in March 2014.
10.
In November 2010, Paula Pareto was granted the Platinum Konex Award as Argentina's best sportswoman of the last decade.
11.
In 2024, Paula Pareto became a member of the International Olympic Committee.
12.
Paula Pareto won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
13.
Paula Pareto stood against Pak Ok-song from North Korea, Pak was active the whole match and earned a koka for her activity.
14.
The drama unfolded in the last 10 seconds when Pak initiated a technique, but Paula Pareto countered with her own move, a Kuchiki taoshi.
15.
Finally, they agreed that it was Paula Pareto who made the technique, and so she took the medal.
16.
Paula Pareto is very successful in continental games and championships like Pan American Games.
17.
Paula Pareto won the gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in August in Astana, Kazakhstan, her first world title.
18.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Paula Pareto defeated Jeong Bo-kyeong to capture an Olympic gold medal.