Flamengo is the champion in the women's category and third place overall in the Brazilian Judo Trophy.
With two gold medals, two bronze medals, and outstanding performances from its young prospects, Flamengo concludes its campaign on a high note in Belo Horizonte.
By Leonardo Pimenta - in
Flamengo concluded its participation in the 2025 Brazilian Judo Trophy, held in Belo Horizonte (MG), this Saturday (8), with a performance that reinforces the club's strength and consistency in the sport. In an edition that broke the historical record of entries, Rubro-Negro took a delegation of 34 athletes to the tatami and finished the tournament as team champion in the women's category and third place overall — an impressive result given the very high technical level of the competition.
After a medal-less Friday, Saturday was a day of Flamengo's comeback and absolute brilliance. Rafaela Silva (up to 63kg) and Karol Gimenes (up to 78kg) won gold medals with impressive performances from start to finish. The two judokas demonstrated technical superiority and experience in decisive moments, confirming Flamengo as one of the main forces in national judo. The performance was completed by bronze medals won by Marcelo Gomes (up to 90kg) and Manu Maia (up to 63kg), which helped consolidate the club's excellent collective campaign.
Flamengo's journey in the Troféu Brasil was also marked by inspiring stories. At 16 years old, Manu Maia, still a member of the cadet category, won her first medal in the country's most important competitions — a feat that highlights the success of the youth development work done at the club. Another great prospect, Clarice Vallim, just 14 years old, also shone when she competed for the bronze medal in her tournament debut.
According to Flamengo's judo coordinator, Murilo Gouveia, the performance was solid and reaffirms the balance between experience and youth within the team:
“The Troféu Brasil is an extremely strong competition, and within that context we did very well. We won two outstanding gold medals, with Rafa and Karol being impressive from start to finish. Furthermore, our younger athletes delivered performances that showcased the potential of the work being done at the grassroots level. It's a campaign that values both the results and the process,” Murilo highlighted.
Flamengo, the overall champion of the 2024 Troféu Brasil, concludes another run among the top powers of Brazilian judo. The club continues to demonstrate the strength of a project that combines tradition, high performance, and the constant renewal of talent who proudly represent the red-and-black jersey on the tatami mats throughout the country.