Historical: Mary Dee Vargas is fifth in Judo Grand Slam and fights for a medal for the first time

This weekend The 2022 Judo Grand Slam was held in the city of Antalya, in Turkey. The only Chilean athlete to say present in the competition was Mary Dee Vargas, who obtained a historic result: she was fifth in her categorya (female -48 kilos) and is the first national to fight for a medal.

Never before has a Chilean athlete managed to be in contention for a medal in a Judo Grand Slam. In the case of Mary Dee Vargas, who is the most successful national in the discipline, Team Chile called her “Giant!” after participating in the Turkish event this weekend.

Of the five fights that Vargas commissioned in Antalya, three ended in victory and two in defeat. It was a victory over Anastasiia Balaban from Bulgaria in the round of 16. The Chilean then beat Leyla Aliyeva of Azerbaijan in the round of 16.

However, her first fall was at the hands of the French Melanie Clement in the quarterfinals, which earned her the list of the best eight. There, Mary Dee Vargas defeated the Turkish Sila Ersin and fell at the hands of the Serbian Milica Nikolic and finished in fifth place at the Antalya Grand Slam.

The first place went to the Mongolian Narantsetseg Ganbaatar. A compatriot of hers won the silver medal: Baasankhuu Bavuudorj. The bronze medal went to two athletes: the Spanish Mireia Lapuerta and Milika Nicolic, who was the last rival of the Chilean, who shared fifth place with the French Clement.