Paula Pareto
Doctor and Olympic judo player, world champion and gold medalist. She inspires with her story of effort, discipline and humility, demonstrating that sporting greatness can coexist with vocation and human commitment.
Biography / Speaker Info
Paula Belén Pareto, affectionately nicknamed "La Peque", is a historic Argentine athlete who has transcended the sporting arena for her exceptional combination of achievements in judo and her professional career as a doctor. Born in San Fernando, province of Buenos Aires, on January 16, 1986, Pareto is considered the best Argentine judoka in history and a true emblem of discipline, constant effort and total dedication to her goals. Her career stands out for being the first Argentine woman to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual discipline.
His track record in high performance is simply exceptional and spans almost two decades. She won her first Olympic medal, a bronze medal, at the 2008 Beijing Games. Eight years later, she reached the ultimate glory by being crowned Olympic Champion in the up to 48 kg division at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. To these milestones can be added the title of World Judo Champion in 2015, three medals in World Championships and multiple titles in Pan American Championships, achieving a consistent string of successes in the under 48 kg category.
What makes her career even more inspiring is that she studied the demanding career of medicine at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) while competing at the highest level. She received her medical degree in 2014 and, after her sports retirement at the Tokyo 2020 Games (where she earned an Olympic diploma), she completed her residency as a traumatologist at the Hospital de San Isidro. This dual life, alternating between the tatami and the operating room, made her a symbol of perseverance and the ability to successfully manage multiple demands at once.
Currently, Paula Pareto practices her profession as a physician, specialized in Orthopedics and Traumatology, putting into practice her vast knowledge of sports injuries. Although she no longer competes, she is still deeply linked to sport, working as Judo Technical Coordinator of ENARD's High Performance Development Program, where she contributes her experience to future generations of athletes.
