Flamengo's judo will be in the spotlight this Thursday (10), in São Paulo, during the National Selection that will define the Brazilian representatives in the 2025 Pan-American and Oceania Championship. Three Flamengo athletes were called up for the competition: Rafaela Silva (57kg), Marcelo Gomes (90kg) and Dani Karla (78kg).

Organized by the Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ), the qualifiers will take place at SESI Vila Leopoldina, with free public access and live broadcast on the Brazilian Olympic Channel on YouTube and Sportv. The event is crucial, as it will determine the judokas who will represent Brazil at the Pan American and Oceania Championships, scheduled for April 25-27, 2025, in Santiago, Chile.

Among the standout names is Rafaela Silva (63kg), Olympic and world champion, who secured a direct spot in the continental competition by winning the 2024 Brazil Trophy. In the men's competition, Marcelo Gomes (90kg) is coming off a strong season, winning a silver medal at the Baku Grand Slam and a bronze medal at the Austrian Grand Prix. He is also the reigning champion of the 2024 Brazil Trophy, which also guaranteed him a spot in the qualifiers. Dani Karla (78kg), the reigning 2024 Brazilian senior champion, has gained experience in international competitions such as the European Judo Open in Warsaw, the Tashkent Grand Slam, and the Rio 2025 Pan American Open.

It is worth noting that Giovanna Santos (78kg) is also a red-black athlete and has already qualified for the Pan-American and Oceania Games as she has no competitors in her weight category, and with that, she secured her place in the Brazilian team in advance.

The National Selection not only determines the Brazilian representatives for the continental championship, but also offers athletes the chance to accumulate important points in the International Judo Federation (IJF) world rankings, directly influencing the race for Olympic qualification.