# Rafaela Silva

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Brazilian judoka (born 1992)

Not to be confused with [Rafael Silva (judoka)](/source/Rafael_Silva_(judoka)).

In this [Portuguese name](/source/Portuguese_name), the first or maternal [family name](/source/Surname) is *Lopes* and the second or paternal family name is *Silva*.

Rafaela Silva Silva in July 2024 Personal information Full name Rafaela Lopes Silva Born (1992-04-24) 24 April 1992 (age 34) Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Occupation Judoka Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in) Sport Country Brazil Sport Judo Weight class ‍–‍57 kg, ‍–‍63 kg Club Instituto Reação[1] Coached by Geraldo Bernardes Achievements and titles Olympic Games (2016) World Champ. ‹See Tfd› (2013, 2022) Pan American Champ. ‹See Tfd› (2012, 2013, 2024) Profile at external databases IJF 438 JudoInside.com 51417 Updated on 10 May 2026

**Rafaela Lopes Silva** (born 24 April 1992) is a Brazilian [judoka](/source/Judoka). She won gold medals at the [World Judo Championships](/source/World_Judo_Championships) of [2013](/source/2013_World_Judo_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_57_kg) and [2022](/source/2022_World_Judo_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_57_kg) and at the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/Judo_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics) in the [–57 kg weight division](/source/Judo_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_57_kg).[2] Currently, she occupies the rank of graduation third sergeant in the Navy of Brazil and integrates the Center of Physical Education Admiral Nunes (CEFAN), the Military Sports Department.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In August 2013, she was the first Brazilian woman to become a world champion in Judo.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Biography

Rafaela Silva grew up in the [Rio de Janeiro slum](/source/Favela) known as [Cidade de Deus](/source/Cidade_de_Deus%2C_Rio_de_Janeiro). The first sport she liked was football, practicing against other children in a dirt field near her home in Jacarepagua. Because they were concerned about fights and violence in the streets, when Rafaela was 7 years old her parents[3] Luiz Carlos and Zenilda Silva signed her up, together with her sister, Raquel, for judo classes at the Institute Reaction, newly established at Cidade de Deus by the former athlete [Flávio Canto](/source/Fl%C3%A1vio_Canto).

"I started judo in 2000, early in the project. My father put me in the sport as an alternative to fighting in the street. In Judo, I found discipline, I respect the other and began to take the sport seriously. Judo showed me the world. With the resources I get, I guarantee my support and help my family pay the bills. "

## Judo career

Rafaela Silva, with her gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Silva won her first major medal by claiming silver at the [2011 World Judo Championships](/source/2011_World_Judo_Championships) in Paris.[4] During the [2013 World Judo Championships](/source/2013_World_Judo_Championships) in Rio de Janeiro, Silva became the first woman to win a gold medal for Brazil in a [World Judo Championship](/source/World_Judo_Championship) after defeating American [Marti Malloy](/source/Marti_Malloy) in the final.[5] She repeated the feat at the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics) by defeating Mongolian [Sumiya Dorjsuren](/source/Sumiya_Dorjsuren) in the final.[6]

At the [2012 London Olympics](/source/2012_London_Olympics), Silva was disqualified for an illegal leg grab during a fight against [Hedvig Karakas](/source/Hedvig_Karakas) of Hungary.[7] Upon returning home, she became depressed. In December 2012, she was a bronze medalist at the [Judo Grand Slam Tokyo](/source/2012_Judo_Grand_Slam_Tokyo) (category up to 63 kg).

Silva won gold and bronze in [2019 Pan American Games](/source/Judo_at_the_2019_Pan_American_Games) and [2019 Judo World Championships](/source/2019_World_Judo_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_57_kg), respectively, but tested positive for [fenoterol](/source/Fenoterol) after the former tournament.[8] Despite testing negative in the World Championships, she was banned from competition for two years by [IJF](/source/International_Judo_Federation) and stripped of both medals.[8] Silva appealed the sanction, but the [CAS](/source/Court_of_Arbitration_for_Sport) upheld the ban in late 2020.[8]

## Mixed martial arts career

Being temporarily banned from judo, Silva opted to transition to mixed martial arts. She is currently training at [PFL](/source/Professional_Fighters_League) athlete Joilton Santos' gym Peregrino Fight Academy with [UFC](/source/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship) athlete [Cláudio Silva](/source/Cl%C3%A1udio_Silva) and is expected to compete in the [flyweight](/source/Flyweight_(MMA)) division.[9]

## Personal life

In an interview with *Globo Esporte*, Rafaela [came out](/source/Came_out) as lesbian. She spoke about her girlfriend Thamara Cezar, whom she met via judo.[10][11][12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cob_1-0)** [Rafaela Lopes Silva](http://www.cob.org.br/pt/atletas/rafaela-lopes-silva) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160919121704/https://www.cob.org.br/pt/atletas/rafaela-lopes-silva) 19 September 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). cob.org.br

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; [Mallon, Bill](/source/Bill_Mallon); et al. ["Rafaela Silva"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161204000000/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/rafaela-silva-1.html). *Olympics at Sports-Reference.com*. [Sports Reference LLC](/source/Sports_Reference). Archived from [the original](https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/rafaela-silva-1.html) on 4 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Paradella, Rodrigo (29 August 2013). ["Rafaela Silva troca futebol por judô e supera drama familiar com ouro"](http://esporte.uol.com.br/judo/ultimas-noticias/2013/08/29/rafaela-silva-troca-futebol-por-judo-e-supera-drama-familiar-com-ouro.htm) (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["World Judo Championships, Paris 2011 – DAY 2 RESULTS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110913172719/http://intjudo.eu/News/cikk19647). Archived from [the original](http://www.intjudo.eu/News/cikk19647) on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["IJF World Championship Seniors 2013 – Category -57 kg"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129062502/http://198.71.59.59/www.judo-world.net/ijf/world/wc2013/tta.php?tta_mode=&aktion=kampfliste&klasse=-57&sprache=english). Archived from [the original](http://198.71.59.59/www.judo-world.net/ijf/world/wc2013/tta.php?tta_mode=&aktion=kampfliste&klasse=-57&sprache=english) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rafaela Silva wins Brazil's first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160809141543/https://www.rio2016.com/en/news/brazilian-judoka-rafaela-silva-wins-brazil-s-first-gold-medal-of-the-rio-2016-olympic-games). Rio 2016. Archived from [the original](https://www.rio2016.com/en/news/brazilian-judoka-rafaela-silva-wins-brazil-s-first-gold-medal-of-the-rio-2016-olympic-games) on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Judo: Racism inspires Brazil's golden girl to greatness](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-judo-w-silva/judo-racism-inspires-brazils-golden-girl-to-greatness-idUSKCN10K1SC) Reuters, Tatiana Ramil, 9 August 2016

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-espn_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-espn_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-espn_8-2) ["Olympic judo champion Rafaela Silva loses appeal of 2-year doping ban"](https://www.espn.com/olympics/judo/story/_/id/30574719/olympic-judo-champion-rafaela-silva-loses-appeal-2-year-doping-ban). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). 21 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Marcelo Alonso (22 January 2021). ["Olympic, Brazilian World Judo Champion Rafaela Silva Moves to MMA"](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Olympic-Brazilian-World-Judo-Champion-Rafaela-Silva-Moves-to-MMA-177297). *[Sherdog](/source/Sherdog)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Brazilian Judo Gold Medalist Publicly Opens Up About Girlfriend For First Time"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rafaela-silva-girlfriend_us_57ab93a2e4b0db3be07cfeda). Huffington Post. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Brazilian gold medal judo champion comes out publicly as gay"](http://www.outsports.com/2016/8/10/12425422/rafaela-silva-brazil-gay-judo-coming-out). Outsposts. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["O alicerce que ninguém vê: namorada cuida de tudo para que Rafaela só lute"](http://globoesporte.globo.com/olimpiadas/judo/noticia/2016/08/o-alicerce-que-ninguem-ve-namorada-cuida-de-tudo-para-que-rafaela-so-lutee.html). *Globo Esporte* (in Portuguese). 10 August 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

## External links

Media related to [Rafaela Silva](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rafaela_Silva) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.ijf.org/judoka/438) at the [International Judo Federation](/source/International_Judo_Federation)

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.judoinside.com/judoka/51417) at JudoInside.com

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/rafaela-silva) at [Olympics.com](/source/International_Olympic_Committee)

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.cob.org.br/time-brasil/medalhistas-olimpicos/rafaela-lopes-silva) at the [Brazilian Olympic Committee](/source/Brazilian_Olympic_Committee) (in Portuguese)

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/122491) at [Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)

- [Rafaela Silva](https://intersportstats.com/athletes/3000443983) at InterSportStats

- [Rafaela Silva](https://web.archive.org/web/20241007141806/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/rafaela-silva_1953835) at the [Paris 2024 Summer Olympics](/source/Paris_2024_Summer_Olympics) (archived, [alternate link](https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024/atleta/rafaela-silva_1953835))

- [Rafaela Silva](https://web.archive.org/web/20240917133315/https://www.lima2019.pe/sites/default/files/wrsd/PAG2019/en/results/judo/athlete-profile-n1144838-silva-rafaela.htm) at the [Lima 2019 Pan American Games](/source/Lima_2019_Pan_American_Games) (archived)

- [Rafaela Silva](https://www.instagram.com/rafaelasilvaa/) on [Instagram](/source/Instagram_(identifier))

Awards Preceded by Ana Marcela Cunha Brazilian Sportswomen of the Year 2016 Succeeded by Mayra Aguiar Preceded by Thiago Pereira Brazilian Athlete of the Year (Fan's Choice) 2016 Succeeded by Caio Bonfim

v t e Olympic Champions in Judo – Women's Lightweight 1992–1996: –56 kg 2000–: –57 kg 1992: Miriam Blasco (ESP) 1996: Driulis González (CUB) 2000: Isabel Fernández (ESP) 2004: Yvonne Bönisch (GER) 2008: Giulia Quintavalle (ITA) 2012: Kaori Matsumoto (JPN) 2016: Rafaela Silva (BRA) 2020: Nora Gjakova (KOS) 2024: Christa Deguchi (CAN)

v t e World Judo Championships — Women's Lightweight 1980–97: −56 kg • 1999–present: –57 kg 1980: Gerda Winklbauer 1982: Béatrice Rodriguez 1984: AnnMaria De Mars 1986: Ann Hughes 1987: Catherine Arnaud 1989: Catherine Arnaud 1991: Miriam Blasco 1993: Nicola Fairbrother 1995: Driulis González 1997: Isabel Fernández 1999: Driulis González 2001: Yurisleidy Lupetey 2003: Kye Sun-hui 2005: Kye Sun-hui 2007: Kye Sun-hui 2009: Morgane Ribout 2010: Kaori Matsumoto 2011: Aiko Sato 2013: Rafaela Silva 2014: Nae Udaka 2015: Kaori Matsumoto 2017: Dorjsürengiin Sumiyaa 2018: Tsukasa Yoshida 2019: Christa Deguchi 2021: Jessica Klimkait 2022: Rafaela Silva 2023: Christa Deguchi 2024: Huh Mi-mi 2025: Eteri Liparteliani List of World Judo Championships medalists in Women's Lightweight

v t e Pan American Games champions in judo – Women's lightweight 56 kg (1983–1995) · 57 kg (1999–) 1983: AnnMaria De Mars (USA) 1987: Cecilia Alacán (CUB) 1991: Kate Donahoo (USA) 1995: Driulis González (CUB) 1999: Driulis González (CUB) 2003: Yurisleidy Lupetey (CUB) 2007: Danielle Zangrando (BRA) 2011: Yurisleidy Lupetey (CUB) 2015: Marti Malloy (USA) 2019: Ana Rosa García (DOM) 2023: Rafaela Silva (BRA)

v t e Prêmio Brasil Olímpico Men 1999: Gustavo Kuerten 2000: Gustavo Kuerten 2001: Robert Scheidt 2002: Nalbert Bitencourt 2003: Fernando Meligeni 2004: Vanderlei de Lima 2005: João Derly 2006: Giba 2007: Thiago Pereira 2008: César Cielo 2009: César Cielo 2010: Murilo Endres 2011: César Cielo 2012: Arthur Zanetti 2013: Jorge Zarif 2014: Arthur Zanetti 2015: Isaquias Queiroz 2016: Isaquias Queiroz 2017: Marcelo Melo 2018: Isaquias Queiroz 2019: Arthur Mariano 2021: Isaquias Queiroz 2022: Alison dos Santos 2023: Marcus Vinicius D'Almeida 2024: Caio Bonfim 2025: Caio Bonfim Women 1999: Maurren Maggi 2000: Leila Barros 2001: Daniele Hypólito 2002: Daniele Hypólito 2003: Daiane dos Santos 2004: Daiane dos Santos 2005: Natália Falavigna 2006: Laís Souza 2007: Jade Barbosa 2008: Maurren Maggi 2009: Sarah Menezes 2010: Fabiana Murer 2011: Fabiana Murer 2012: Sheilla Castro 2013: Poliana Okimoto 2014: Martine Grael & Kahena Kunze 2015: Ana Marcela Cunha 2016: Rafaela Silva 2017: Mayra Aguiar 2018: Ana Marcela Cunha 2019: Beatriz Ferreira 2021: Rebeca Andrade 2022: Rebeca Andrade 2023: Rebeca Andrade 2024: Rebeca Andrade 2025: Maria Clara Pacheco Fan's Choice 2014: Flávia Saraiva 2015: Thiago Pereira 2016: Rafaela Silva 2017: Caio Bonfim 2018: Henrique Avancini 2019: Hugo Calderano 2021: Fernanda Garay 2022: Hugo Calderano 2023: Flávia Saraiva 2024: Caio Bonfim 2025: João Fonseca (men) & Gabi Guimarães (women) Breakthrough Athlete 2023: Maria Eduarda Alexandre 2024: Gustavo Oliveira 2025: Rebeca Lima Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Trophy (Lifetime award) 2001: Nelson Prudêncio 2002: João Gonçalves Filho 2003: Amaury Pasos 2004: Maria Lenk 2005: Agberto Guimarães 2006: Aída dos Santos 2007: André Richer 2008: João Havelange 2009: Joaquim Cruz 2010: Éder Jofre 2011: Bernard Rajzman 2012: Hortência Marcari 2013: Torben Grael 2014: Vanderlei de Lima 2015: Gustavo Kuerten 2016: Bernardo Rezende 2017: Lars Grael 2018: Jackie Silva 2019: Oscar Schmidt 2021: Janeth Arcain 2022: Daiane dos Santos 2023: Chiaki Ishii 2024: José Roberto Guimarães 2025: Robert Scheidt Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima Trophy (Sportsmanship award) 2025: Andrei Jessé, Diogo Volkmann, Kayki Rocha & Miguel Marques (rowing)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rafaela Silva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafaela_Silva) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafaela_Silva?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.