Judoka Rafaela Silva, the winner of Brazil’s first gold medal at Rio 2016, has returned to the favela where she was born in the Olympic host city to share her success with its inhabitants ©IJF

Judoka Rafaela Silva, the winner of Brazil’s first gold medal at Rio 2016, has returned to the favela where she was born in the Olympic host city to share her success with its inhabitants.

The 24-year-old had required a golden point period to reach the women’s under 57 kilograms final before a sole waza-ari proved enough to overcome Mongolia's Sumiya Dorjsuren at Carioca Arena 2.

Silva took up sport - first football and then judo - principally as a means to try to escape trouble in the notorious City of God favela community in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

After being paraded through the favela on a fire truck, the 2013 world champion said: "There were people everywhere, throughout the City of God.

"We first started to celebrate with people from a social project known as the Athletes of Christ, then we had a press conference and then the parade, sitting on the fire truck, throughout the favela. 

"The last stop was the house where I was born. 

"There was a show with artists of the City of God, I just wanted to be happy and I was. 

"Those moments will remain in the community’s memory and in my memory forever. 

"During the whole celebration, I really had the feeling that I was in the middle of the people I love. 

"This is my life."

Rafaela Silva took up sport principally as a means to try to escape trouble in the notorious City of God favela community ©IJF
Rafaela Silva took up sport principally as a means to try to escape trouble in the notorious City of God favela community ©IJF

After World Championship and Pan American Games silver medals in 2011, Silva suffered heartbreak at London 2012, retrospectively disqualified after initially winning a preliminary bout for a blow judged to be an illegal chop.

Silva recovered to win the following year's world title at the Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro, and thus became the first woman from her country to claim a global crown in judo. 

Her home city proved a happy hunting ground once again earlier this month as she got the better of Dorjsuren for Olympic gold.

"Rafaela is not just Olympic champion - she is a champion for life," said International Judo Federation (IJF) President Marius Vizer.

"She had to fight against all odds and she won. 

"She is an example for many generations and has proven that whatever the place where you come from, you can set goals and achieve them. 

"It also showed that judo is more than a sport and that our sport can help you to change your life. 

"Seeing her coming back to where she was born is a moment filled with emotion."

The City of God was brought to the screen in 2002 by filmmaker Fernando Meirelles, who also conceived the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony.

The IJF’s Judo for the World series met with Silva in March, when she explained the battles she has had to face.

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