Prisca Awiti Alcaraz Wins First Olympic Medal for Mexico in Judo
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 30: Silver medalist Prisca Awiti Alcaraz of Team Mexico celebrates during the Women's Judo Women -63 kg medal ceremony on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Champs-de-Mars Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
London-born Mexican-Kenyan Olympic athlete Prisca Awiti Alcaraz just made history. On July 30, Alcaraz won Team Mexico’s first Olympic medal in judo, and first overall silver medal this year.
Previously the athlete competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Alcaraz won the silver medal for women’s under 63kg judo against Afghan refugee team member Nigara Shaheen, making history as the first time Mexico has ever won a medal in the sport. After winning, when asked what Mexico means to her, she responded in Spanish: “Mexico, for me, is my country, is the pride of my family, [of my] mom, the truth it’s everything to me.”
In a recorded video, Alcaraz is seen getting emotional when greeting her mother after her historical win. Her mother says that silver is “her favorite” as she congratulates her daughter with a hug.
https://twitter.com/todomenosfut/status/1818342459140681823
Social media users are also excited about the win. “Women making history in these Olympic Games, it is the first time that our country 🇲🇽 gets a medal in this discipline and Prisca made it possible. Congratulations!”
https://twitter.com/GracielaDguezN/status/1818356633439006937
Earlier this month, Alcaraz wrote in Spanish about her journey toward the 2024 Paris Olympics. “My preparation in Mexico has come to an end! Having the best team I could ever have around me, helping me to always move forward every day,” she said. “Thanks to everyone on the national team who supported me and the others who also came to help me, words will never be enough!”
Although the gold medal for the women’s 63kg judo competition ended up going to Slovenia’s Andreja Leski, Alcaraz’s win will go down in history.
