Lucia da Silva Teixeira Araujo

Started: She took up judo in 1996 at age 15 at the Associacao de Judo Kimura club in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She first tried Para judo in 2006 following a six-year break from the sport. (luciaaraujojudo.com.br, 01 Jan 2021; cpb.org.br, 01 Jun 2019) Reason: She initially got involved in judo along with her brothers. "Then I started to work and study and had to quit. However, in 2006 I got into Para judo. I met a blind athlete, Renata, and she showed me a different world, she showed me I could do anything. I went to the national championships that year to see how far I would be able to go and ended up as champion." (luciaaraujojudo.com.br, 11 Sep 2016, 01 Jul 2015) Additional Info: EDUCATION She began studying massage therapy but had to quit the course in order to prepare for the 2008 Paralympic Games. She later studied nutrition. (revistamarieclaire.globo.com, 27 Dec 2021)

Sporting Relatives: Her husband Helder Maciel Araujo has also competed in Para judo and represented Brazil at the Paralympic Games in 1996, 2000 and 2008. (SportsDeskOnline, 10 May 2021; paralympic.org, 01 Jan 2001)