When Judith González (29) arrived in this world, it seemed like her destiny was written in stone. She’s the daughter of two former national judo athletes, Judith Jaque and Carlos González, and her development in sports was going in that direction with no way to avoid it.
Just like her five siblings -María Loreto, Robert, Danae, Óscar, and Camilo-, she was dressed with the black belt, which is used to condecorate judokas of excellence. However, she started standing out as years went by and she became one of the most important exponents of this sport in Chile, reaching the top of the national ranking for the -52 kg category.
After being back from her participation at the Pan American Open in Córdoba, Argentina, where she took the silver medal, the judoka known by her close ones as “JudiJudo” talked with us about her year with Santiago 2023 on her horizon.
DID THE PASSION FOR JUDO START WITH YOUR PARENTS OR DID IT START BEFORE THEM?
It started with them. My mom started at her school, Liceo 7, and my dad started at the Escuela de Carabineros (police school). His dad was a cop and took him to practice judo. My parents met at a judo trip when they were both part of the national team. They were also judo teachers. There was no escape, we didn’t have many options (LAUGHTER).
DID YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS HAVE A PARALLEL CAREER NEXT TO BEING JUDOKAS?
We all had to study. Our parents were always pushing for us to finish school and go to university. I did dedicate more time to judo but all of them have their own careers and are doing well. I’m a nurse assistant student and I hope I can finish my professional studies soon.
WHO CAME UP WITH THE NICKNAME “JUDIJUDO”? OR WAS IT SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS?
It’s been my nickname since I can remember. That’s what people have called me since school. That was even my Fotolog name. It’s something easy because everybody knows JudiJudo is Judith González.
Judith González is at the very top of the -52 kg national ranking. (Picture: FEJUCHILE).
SANTIAGO 2023 AT THE END OF THE ROAD
Being at the top of the national ranking for her category, Judith González has all that’s needed to be part of the Chilean team at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. However, she’ll receive confirmation by September regarding her quota for the multisport festival of the Americas.
Despite this, her preparation this season has been thinking exclusively about this competition in a season that has had its problems. In March, the judoka suffered a severe injury that kept her away from the tatami until her return to Córdoba by the beginning of June. “I almost cut the medial on my left elbow and fractured my radius,” she said.
HAS YOUR PREPARATION BEEN SLOW?
It has been. I’m still working with my kinesiologist. I think this is going to take a lot of time, although I believe I’ll be ok by the Games. I still have some more treatment months to go but I think we’re doing fine.
CONSIDERING YOUR INJURY, HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR SEASON SO FAR?
A bit unfortunate but I feel comfortable competing. I think I’m recovering pretty quickly and that a great second semester is coming.
DO YOU HAVE A SET CALENDAR FOR THE UPCOMING COMPETITIONS?
I’ll be at the Guayaquil Open in the beginning of July and then a tournament in Brazil. After that, there’s a specific South American Game. Then, we’ll gather in Europe and finish with the specific Pan American Game prior to the Games. I’ve thought of training abroad from August to September to avoid some pressure. I’d rather not be part of the expectation for the event and focus on training. We always go to Spain. The Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Valencia has always received us with open arms.
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IF YOU GET TO PARTICIPATE AT SANTIAGO 2023?
These are my third Pan American Games so I take this seriously. I know this will be a special tournament. In Judo, we always say that anything can happen in the Games. Depending on how you get up, your expectations, and the pressure from the crowd because, in this case, we’ll be fighting in Chile. I have a good record competing in my country. I trust that all the warmth and support that Chile gives me I’ll also have it at the Games. I can’t assure you I’ll win a medal but I can guarantee I’ll give you a good show and I’ll try to get as high as I can.
DO YOU FEEL BETTER PREPARED NOW THAN AT THE TWO PREVIOUS PAN AMERICAN GAMES?
I feel I’m at the best moment of my career. The first time I qualified for Toronto in 2015 because I had a great youth season, where I did great, but I was still really young. For Lima, I was also in a good moment but I feel much better now and my results give me confidence. I feel I’m better prepared psychologically, which is the most important part.
WHAT ARE THE COUNTRIES TO BEAT?
We always have to look out for the Brazilians. They have a world and Olympic judo history, as well as Canada, which has exported tons of judokas, and the USA, who are strong in all sports.
'JudiJudo' won the silver medal in the South American Games of Asunción 2022. (Picture: COCh).
“I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT THE SPORTS LEGACY OF THE GAMES IS A CENTER DESTINED FOR COMBAT”
Judith also had some words related to the Centro de Deportes de Contacto that’s being built inside the Parque Estadio Nacional. This infrastructure will host all combat competitions during Santiago 2023.
In that context, the Club Kodokan athlete and bronze medal winner at the 2022 Valledupar Bolivarian Games has a positive opinion on the infrastructure and she points out that a construction of this type can be an even bigger incentive for a group of sports that has had great success in our country.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE CENTRO DE DEPORTES DE CONTACTO?
I think it’s great that the sport legacy is an exclusive center for combat. We were missing that. People on the combat sport area talk basically the same language: going up or down in weight, preparation, and parts of the body that can’t be cold. I think it’s extremely positive that they’ve destined a center exclusive for combat.
WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE A RESURGENCE OF CONTACT SPORTS IN THE FUTURE?
For sure. Actually, contact sports at the Pan American level tend to be the ones that bring the most medals to Chile, although I do understand that we have more categories.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE PRESENT OF NATIONAL JUDO?
It’s going great. More doors are opening for everyone. My partner Mary Dee has made history in judo. Female judo has progressed really fast with the new generations so I think we can give a nice surprise in the Games.
ARE THE NUMBERS BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE JUDO ATHLETES LEANED TOWARDS ONE OR THE OTHER?
It’s leaned towards the male, as it’s a combat sport. But, the level of results from female athletes is higher than the masculine athletes, although it has to do with a matter of opportunities. There are more men practicing judo in the world so there are less opportunities than for female athletes. When we travel, we’re usually three women and five men in the delegation.
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