Prisca Awiti at 30: how a Plan B sport became Olympic silver for Mexico

Prisca Guadalupe Awiti Alcaraz turned 30 as one of the standout stories of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The British-born judoka, who has represented Mexico since 2018, shocked many fans by taking silver in the U63kg category and carving her name into Mexican sports history.

Her path to that podium was anything but scripted. Growing up in Great Britain, her main focus was gymnastics, where she competed nationally at under 12 level. Judo only slipped into her life thanks to a small argument with her older brother, who trained both sports. She tried judo once a week as a backup, never imagining it would become her future.

A childhood debate turned into an Olympic medal.

Everything changed when coaches warned her she would likely grow too tall for elite gymnastics. The supposed second choice suddenly became the primary focus, and Awiti quickly collected British cadet and junior titles, marking her as a serious prospect in the European scene. Then came a brutal stretch: a head injury sidelined her for eight months, and another injury kept her out for six more, pushing her to the edge of quitting.

While studying and training in Bath, a simple question from her coach became the turning point: did she hold a Mexican passport? Thanks to her family roots, she did. After reaching out to the Mexican head coach, the switch of allegiance was completed in just a few months, and she stepped onto the tatami for Mexico for the first time in October 2018. New country, new teammates, new language – and the added challenge of processing shouted instructions in Spanish during intense matches.

To fully adapt, she later spent seven months living and training in Mexico, improving her Spanish and building strong ties with the team. Results followed: silver at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guadalajara, gold at Pan American Opens in Santo Domingo and Lima in 2022, plus bronze medals at events in Perth, Linz and Zagreb, and another victory in Lima in 2023. A fifth-place finish at the 2023 World Championships showed she was ready to battle the world’s best at U63kg.

Her rivalries highlight the depth of the division, with multiple encounters against Venezuela’s Anriquelis Barrios and Brazil’s Ketleyn Quadros. From a European angle, her long-running series with British judoka Lubjana Piovesana, where Awiti trails overall, stands out as a reminder of her roots. Each contest refined her tactics and mental toughness.

In Paris 2024, all those years of struggle and adjustment came together. Awiti fought through a stacked draw to seize Olympic silver, a milestone for Mexican judo and a personal triumph after so many setbacks. Born and raised in Britain, competing for Mexico and moving confidently between English and Spanish, she embodies a modern, multicultural sporting identity.

At 30, her story is proof that careers rarely move in straight lines. A sibling argument, a growth spurt, serious injuries and one crucial passport decision shaped her journey. What started as a once-a-week backup sport ended with an Olympic medal around her neck.

Source: JudoInside