1. Overview
Mayra Aguiar da Silva is a celebrated Brazilian judoka whose career exemplifies resilience and groundbreaking achievement in the sport. Born on August 3, 1991, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Aguiar distinguished herself as the first Brazilian woman to win three Olympic medals in an individual sport and is widely regarded as the best female judoka in Brazil's history. Her illustrious career is marked by three consecutive Olympic bronze medals in the women's 172 lb (78 kg) category at the 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, and 2020 Tokyo Games, alongside three World Championship titles. Her consistent performance and pioneering spirit have significantly contributed to the visibility and empowerment of women in athletics in Brazil and globally.
2. Early Life and Judo Beginning
Mayra Aguiar da Silva was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She began her judo training at the young age of six, immersing herself in the sport from a very early point in her life. Her formative training environment was notable, as she attended the same dojo as prominent Brazilian judokas such as Tiago Camilo, a silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics. These early experiences alongside established athletes helped shape her dedication and potential. Aguiar has cited both Camilo and João Derly as her sporting idols, further indicating the influential figures in her early judo journey. She has trained under coach Antônio Carlos Pereira, known as "Kiko," as part of a group based in SOGIPA.
3. Career
Mayra Aguiar's professional judo career spans over a decade, marked by significant progression, numerous major competitions, and historic achievements across various weight categories.
3.1. Early Career and Injury (2006-2009)
Mayra Aguiar began her competitive career at a remarkably young age. At just 15 years old, she won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Judo Juniors Championships held in Santo Domingo. In the following year, she earned a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Judo Championships in Montreal. Still only 15, Aguiar competed at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in the women's 154 lb (70 kg) category, securing a silver medal after losing in the final to future UFC champion Ronda Rousey. In 2008, at the 2008 Pan American Judo Championships in Miami, she achieved her first gold medal at this competition, demonstrating her growing prowess.
In 2008, Aguiar made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in the women's 154 lb (70 kg) category, but she lost her only match to Spanish judoka Leire Iglesias. Following the Olympics, she won a silver medal at the 2008 World Judo Juniors Championships in Bangkok. In December 2008, Aguiar faced a significant setback when she suffered a severe injury to her right knee ligament. This injury forced her to step away from judo training for nearly ten months, and she only returned to the mat in September 2009. Upon her return, she notably secured a bronze medal in the 172 lb (78 kg) category at the 2009 World Judo Juniors Championships in Paris, marking a successful comeback.
3.2. Breakthrough and First Olympic Medal (2010-2012)
Following her injury and return, Mayra Aguiar made a strategic decision to change her weight category from middleweight (154 lb (70 kg)) to half-heavyweight (172 lb (78 kg)) in 2010. This transition proved highly successful. She won a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Judo Championships in El Salvador. At the 2010 Judo Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro, a significant tournament for ranking points, she defeated France's number one in the 172 lb (78 kg) category, Celine Lebrun, to claim a bronze medal. In September of the same year, she competed at the 2010 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, where she earned a silver medal after losing the final to Kayla Harrison of the United States. She continued her success by winning gold at the 2010 World Judo Juniors Championships in Agadir, becoming the athlete with the most medals in the competition's history at that time.
In 2011, Aguiar continued to demonstrate her rising dominance. She secured bronze medals at the 2011 Judo Grand Slam Paris, the 2011 Judo Grand Slam Moscow, and the 2011 Judo Grand Slam Tokyo. She also won a silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Judo Championships. A notable victory came at the 2011 Judo Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro, where she defeated her rival Kayla Harrison. At the 2011 World Judo Championships in Paris, Aguiar earned a bronze medal, with her only defeat in the semifinals coming against the world No. 1, Japanese judoka Akari Ogata. Later that year, at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, she again faced Kayla Harrison in her second fight, losing to the gold medal favorite but ultimately securing a bronze medal.
The year 2012 marked a major breakthrough for Aguiar. She won her first title at the 2012 Judo World Masters in Almaty, defeating all opponents by ippon. Her victory at the 2012 Judo Grand Slam Paris propelled her to the top of the world rankings in the under-172 lb (78 kg) category, making her the first Brazilian woman to achieve the number one ranking since the IJF introduced its system in 2009. She also became a three-time champion at the 2012 Pan American Judo Championships in Montreal. Her impressive run culminated at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she won a bronze medal, securing three of her victories by ippon. Her sole defeat was once again to Kayla Harrison in the semifinal, who went on to win the gold medal.
3.3. First World Title and Second Olympic Medal (2013-2016)
Mayra Aguiar continued her dominance in the subsequent Olympic cycle. In 2013, she became a four-time champion of the Pan American Judo Championship, winning gold at the 2013 Pan American Judo Championships. She also secured another gold medal at the 2013 Judo World Masters in Tyumen, which again placed her as the world number one. At the 2013 Judo Grand Slam Moscow, she earned a silver medal. The 2013 World Judo Championships were held in her home city of Rio de Janeiro, where she claimed a bronze medal in her individual 172 lb (78 kg) category and an unprecedented silver medal with the Brazilian women's team.
After the 2013 World Championships, Aguiar took an eight-month break from competition, returning in July 2014 at the 2014 Judo Grand Slam Tyumen. There, she won all four of her matches, securing a gold medal by once again defeating her rival Kayla Harrison. This victory was a prelude to her historic first world champion title at the 2014 World Judo Championships in Chelyabinsk, where she defeated France's Audrey Tcheuméo in the final, further solidifying her position as a global leader in her category.
Following her world title, Aguiar took another break from competition for eight months. She returned at the 2015 Pan American Judo Championships, where she became a five-time champion of the tournament. At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, she won a silver medal, again falling to Kayla Harrison. In November 2015, she also earned a silver medal at the 2015 Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
In February 2016, Aguiar secured her second gold medal at the 2016 Judo Grand Slam Paris, defeating Kayla Harrison by ippon in the final. This marked the second time she had won the French Grand Slam by overcoming Harrison, bringing their head-to-head record to eight victories for Aguiar in 15 encounters. At the 2016 Pan American Judo Championships in Havana, Aguiar and Harrison met again in the final, with Harrison winning to tie their personal rivalry, leaving Aguiar with the silver medal. Their 17th and final duel occurred at the 2016 Judo World Masters, where Harrison secured victory with an armbar, and Aguiar earned her third Masters medal, a silver.
With Brazil hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Mayra Aguiar was considered a strong favorite for gold due to her recent triumphs. However, a challenging semifinal match against Audrey Tcheuméo resulted in a defeat by penalties, sending Aguiar to the bronze medal match. She successfully won this match, securing her second consecutive Olympic bronze medal and adding another prestigious achievement to her career.
3.4. Continued Dominance and Third Olympic Medal (2017-2021)
After the 2016 Olympic Games, Mayra Aguiar took a period of rest to recover and focus on her training. She made her return to competition in June 2017, winning the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Cancún in Mexico. In her very next competition, the 2017 World Judo Championships in Budapest, she displayed remarkable form, defeating two Japanese opponents-Rika Sato and the reigning world champion Mami Umeki-in a row to become a two-time world champion. This year, she also won a bronze medal at the 2017 Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
In March 2018, Aguiar maintained her strong performance, reaching the podium in both competitions she entered: a silver medal at the 2018 Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf in February and a bronze medal at the 2018 Judo Grand Slam Ekaterinburg in March, which placed her second in the world rankings at the time. She later regained the world number one ranking after winning silver at the 2018 Judo Grand Prix Hohhot. She also secured a silver medal at the 2018 Judo Grand Prix Cancún.
The year 2019 saw Aguiar continue her success. She won gold at the 2019 Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf and silver at the 2019 Judo Grand Slam Ekaterinburg. At the 2019 Pan American Judo Championships, she claimed her sixth title in the tournament, a testament to her regional dominance. In July, she was also champion of the 2019 Judo Grand Prix Budapest. At the age of 28, and as the world ranking leader in the 172 lb (78 kg) category, Aguiar achieved her first gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. She continued her impressive run at the 2019 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, where she earned a bronze medal after losing to France's Madeleine Malonga in the semifinal. This marked her sixth medal at the World Championships, making her the most decorated Brazilian female medalist in the history of the event.
In early 2020, Aguiar secured a silver medal at the 2020 Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf. Her remarkable consistency culminated in 2021 when she earned one of the bronze medals in the women's 172 lb (78 kg) event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. This historic achievement marked her third consecutive Olympic bronze medal, an unprecedented feat for a Brazilian woman in an individual sport. She lost her quarterfinal match to the reigning world champion, Germany's Anna-Maria Wagner, but fought through the repechage to secure her place on the podium.
3.5. Later Career and Retirement (2022-2024)
Following the return of international sports competitions, Mayra Aguiar achieved significant results in 2022. In April, she became a seven-time champion of the tournament at the 2022 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships. She continued her strong performances by obtaining a silver medal at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam Tbilisi in June, a bronze medal at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam Budapest in July, and another bronze medal at the 2022 Judo Grand Prix Zagreb in July.
In October 2022, Aguiar made history once again by becoming the first Brazilian three-time judo world champion at the 2022 World Judo Championships in Tashkent. In the quarterfinals, she defeated German Alina Boehm, the reigning European champion. In the semifinals, she secured a crucial ippon victory against Shori Hamada, the reigning Olympic champion. She then won the gold medal match against China's Ma Zhenzhao. By the end of 2022, after winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Judo World Masters in Jerusalem, she returned to the lead in the world rankings.
After the 2022 Masters, Aguiar took a nine-month break from competition for rest and to treat minor injuries. She returned in September 2023 at the 2023 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships held in Calgary, Canada, where she secured her eighth Pan American title. In the same month, she won a bronze medal at the 2023 Judo Grand Slam Baku. In December, she achieved an unprecedented gold for Brazilian judo by winning the 2023 Judo Grand Slam Tokyo. Prior to her victory, the only Brazilian champion in Japan in a major international event was Sergio Pessoa, who won the Jigoro Kano Cup in 1986 under a different format.
Mayra Aguiar competed in her fourth Olympic Games at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she lost in the second round to Alice Bellandi of Italy. On December 26, 2024, Mayra Aguiar officially announced her retirement from competitive judo.
4. Playing Style and Technique
Mayra Aguiar is renowned for her distinctive judo style, characterized by a strong grip and strategic approach. Early in her career, groundwork was identified as a relative weakness. To address this, she diligently trained with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu masters, focusing specifically on defensive techniques, dedicating approximately three sessions per week to this aspect of her training. This intensive training significantly improved her ground fighting capabilities, allowing her to neutralize opponents who specialized in groundwork.
Her strong grip was a consistent asset, enabling her to control exchanges and set up her throws effectively. This combined strength in both standing techniques (tachi-waza) and improved groundwork (ne-waza) made her a well-rounded and formidable opponent. For instance, in the 2017 World Championships final against the highly skilled groundwork specialist Mami Umeki, Aguiar's enhanced groundwork defense was crucial; she successfully prevented Umeki from initiating her preferred ground attacks, showcasing her comprehensive improvement and adaptability. Her ability to adjust and overcome technical shortcomings through dedicated training highlights her commitment and strategic depth as a judoka.
5. Major Achievements
Mayra Aguiar's career is decorated with an impressive array of medals from the most prestigious judo tournaments worldwide.
| Year | Tournament | Place | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | World Judo Juniors Championships | 3rd | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2007 | Pan American Judo Championships | 2nd | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2007 | Pan American Games | 2nd | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2008 | World Cup Warsaw | 1st | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2008 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2008 | World Judo Juniors Championships | 2nd | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| 2009 | World Judo Juniors Championships | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | World Cup Budapest | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | Judo Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | World Cup São Paulo | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | World Judo Championships | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2010 | World Judo Juniors Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Judo Grand Slam Paris | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Pan American Judo Championships | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Judo Grand Slam Moscow | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Judo Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | World Judo Championships | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Pan American Games | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Judo Grand Slam Tokyo | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2011 | Grand Prix Qingdao | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2012 | Judo World Masters | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2012 | Judo Grand Slam Paris | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2012 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2013 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2013 | Judo World Masters | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2013 | Judo Grand Slam Moscow | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2013 | World Judo Championships | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2013 | World Judo Championships (Team Event) | 2nd | Women's Team |
| 2014 | Judo Grand Slam Tyumen | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2014 | World Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2015 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2015 | Pan American Games | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2015 | Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2016 | Judo Grand Slam Paris | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2016 | Judo Grand Prix Tbilisi | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2016 | Pan American Judo Championships | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2016 | Judo World Masters | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2017 | Judo Grand Prix Cancún | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2017 | World Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2017 | Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2018 | Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2018 | Judo Grand Slam Ekaterinburg | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2018 | Judo Grand Prix Hohhot | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2018 | Judo Grand Prix Cancún | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | European Open Oberwart | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | Judo Grand Slam Ekaterinburg | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | Judo Grand Prix Budapest | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | Pan American Games | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2019 | World Judo Championships | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2020 | Judo Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | Judo Grand Slam Tbilisi | 2nd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | Judo Grand Slam Budapest | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | Judo Grand Prix Zagreb | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | World Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2022 | Judo World Masters | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2023 | Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2023 | Judo Grand Slam Baku | 3rd | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| 2023 | Judo Grand Slam Tokyo | 1st | 172 lb (78 kg) |
6. Legacy and Reception
Mayra Aguiar has left an indelible mark on Brazilian judo and the broader sporting landscape, solidifying her place as a true pioneer and a celebrated figure. Her most significant historical achievement is becoming the **first Brazilian woman to win three Olympic medals in an individual sport**. This feat not only highlights her exceptional consistency and longevity at the elite level but also breaks barriers for female athletes in a country passionate about sports.
She is widely regarded as the **best female judoka in the history of Brazil**, a recognition earned through her three Olympic bronze medals and three World Championship titles. Beyond her impressive medal count, Aguiar is also one of the most popular judokas in Brazil, indicating a strong connection with the public. Her sustained success on the international stage has elevated the profile of judo within Brazil and inspired countless aspiring athletes, particularly young girls, to pursue their dreams in martial arts and competitive sports. Her career embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellence, contributing significantly to the empowerment of women in athletics and serving as a powerful role model for future generations.