By Warm applause just rippled through the media centre to the announcement of judo gold for Brazil’s Rafaela Silva, who beat Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia in the 57kg final.
She grew up in a Rio favela and wears a tattoo on her right bicep which reads: “Only God knows how much I have suffered and what I have done to get here.”
She became Brazil’s first world judo champion in 2013 and is universally adored.
The Rio born judoka has won the hosts first gold medal of this 2016 Olympic games, and coming her make it more pleasing for the Rio faithful.
