Carmen Chalá


Carmen Anita Chalá-Quilumba is a judoka and former field athlete from Ecuador.

Early life, family and education

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

Athletic career

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.
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.
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. She decided to continue as a athlete, aspiring to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but she did not.

Achievements

YearTournamentPlaceWeight class
1999Pan American Games3rdHeavyweight
2003Pan American Games3rdHeavyweight
2007Pan American Games2ndHeavyweight

YearTournamentPlaceWeight class
2005Pan American Judo Championships1stHeavyweight
2005Pan American Judo Championships1stOpenweight
2006Pan American Judo Championships3rdHeavyweight
2006Pan American Judo Championships8thOpenweight
2007Pan American Judo Championships3rdHeavyweight
2007Pan American Judo Championships7thOpenweight
2008Pan American Judo Championships5thHeavyweight
2008Pan American Judo Championships3rdOpenweight
2009Pan American Judo Championships3rdHeavyweight
2009Pan American Judo Championships3rdOpenweight
2010Pan American Judo Championships5thHeavyweight
2010Pan American Judo Championships10thOpenweight

YearTournamentPlaceWeight class
2002South American Games1stHeavyweight
2002South American Games2ndOpenweight
2006South American Games3rdHeavyweight
2006South American Games2ndOpenweight
2010South American Games3rdHeavyweight
2010South American Games3rdOpenweight