Carmen Chalá

(Redirected from Carmen Chala)

Carmen Anita Chalá Quilumba (born June 7, 1976) is a judoka and former field athlete from Ecuador.

Carmen Chalá
Personal information
Full nameCarmen Anita Chalá Quilumba
BornJune 7, 1976 (1976-06-07) (age 48)
Carchi, Ecuador
Medal record
Women's judo
Representing  Ecuador
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2007 Rio de Janeiro + 78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Winnipeg + 78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Santo Domingo + 78 kg
Pan American Judo Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Caguas +78 kg
Gold medal – first place 2005 Caguas Openweight
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Buenos Aires +78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Montreal +78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Miami Openweight
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Buenos Aires +78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Buenos Aires Openweight
South American Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Rio de Janeiro + 78 kg
Silver medal – second place 2002 Rio de Janeiro Openweight
Silver medal – second place 2006 Buenos Aires Openweight
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Buenos Aires + 78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Medellín + 78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Medellín Openweight
Women's athletics
South American Games
Gold medal – first place 1990 Lima Shot put
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Lima Discus throw
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Lima Heptathlon
Bolivarian Games
Silver medal – second place 1993 Cochabamba Shot put
Silver medal – second place 1993 Cochabamba Discus throw
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Maracaibo Shot put

Early life, family and education

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Carmen was born in the Ecuadoran province Carchi but at heart she is from Manabí.[1] Her family has many athletes in it: older sister Eva, and younger sisters Diana and Vanessa have all been national judo team members.[2]

Athletic career

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Carmen Chalá was a national champion in athletics in shot put and discus throw. However, by 1995, realizing that there are not many chances to be a successful field athlete at an international level, she began learning and practicing judo. She was 29 years old, considered very late to begin an endeavor like that. Her older sister Eva Chalá inspired her to try judo as she was already involved in it herself; Eva later became a referee for the sport as well.[2]

After only a month of judo training, Carmen became a national heavyweight champion. In the final, she defeated Olympian María Cangá, whom Carmen considered the nation's top female judo athlete.[2]

Although her success has been primarily within South American contests, Chalá participated at three Olympic Games but won only one match, defeating Sandra Köppen of Germany at the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2009, she wanted to join in politics but later delayed her candidature.[citation needed] She decided to continue as an athlete, aspiring to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but she did not.

Achievements

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Year Tournament Place Weight class
2000 Olympic Games AC Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2004 Olympic Games AC Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2008 Olympic Games 18th Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
Year Tournament Place Weight class
1999 Pan American Games 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2003 Pan American Games 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2007 Pan American Games 2nd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
Year Tournament Place Weight class
2005 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2005 Pan American Judo Championships 1st Openweight
2006 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2006 Pan American Judo Championships 8th Openweight
2007 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2007 Pan American Judo Championships 7th Openweight
2008 Pan American Judo Championships 5th Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2008 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Openweight
2009 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2009 Pan American Judo Championships 3rd Openweight
2010 Pan American Judo Championships 5th Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2010 Pan American Judo Championships 10th Openweight
Year Tournament Place Weight class
2002 South American Games 1st Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2002 South American Games 2nd Openweight
2006 South American Games 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2006 South American Games 2nd Openweight
2010 South American Games 3rd Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2010 South American Games 3rd Openweight

References

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  1. ^ "Carmen Chalá". ecuadorcoe.org.ec. Ecuadoran Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  2. ^ a b c "Las Chalá llevan el judo en la sangre" [The Chalá carry judo in their blood]. hoy.com.ec (in Spanish). Hoy Ecuador. 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
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