Olympic judoka Thelma Monteiro will undergo surgery on her left knee next week after injuring her anterior cruciate ligament last Friday during her first bout at the European Championships in Montpellier, Benfica said on Friday.
“The athlete will undergo surgery next week as part of a recovery plan that will be aimed at maintaining the goal of participating in the sixth Olympic Games of her career,” the Lisbon club said.
The club also clarified the nature of the judoist’s injury, who, after the Europeans, underwent additional examinations to assess the future path and when Thelma Monteiro, who took part in five Olympic Games, will try again in Paris in 2024.
“Those who know Thelma Monteiro’s motivation and perseverance believe that she will be in Paris 2024,” the Lisbon club added.
The judoka, who turns 38 in December, has the most extensive track record in the sport in Portugal: an Olympic bronze, four world titles, six European titles and a host of medals, many of them at international level.
After the Tokyo 2020 Games, which will take place in 2021, Thelma Monteiro announced her desire to continue competing and qualify for Paris.
Eight months before the Games, with qualifying in 14 weight classes still ongoing, Thelma Monteiro finds herself in the qualifying spot in the 57kg weight class, ranked 13th excluding the host nation’s athlete and counting just one. vacancies for judokas in each country – among 17 determined by ranking.
Losing an international competition where qualifying points count represents a risk for the Portuguese judoka who, if she loses a qualifying position, could be forced to regain points in the final qualifying round.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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