Valerie Gotay
Encyclopedia
Valerie Lafon-Gotay (born November 5, 1973 in San Diego, California
) is a former judoka from the United States
.
At 18 years old, Gotay was supposed to compete in the 1992 Olympic Games
in extra-lightweight category. Unfortunately, after working hard to lose some kilos to make her weight category, she became extremely sick with uncontrollable and violent muscle contractions which forced her to withdraw from the competition.
She decided to stop competing after Barcelona
.
Gotay later married and has two children Breanna (1997) and Isabella (2002).
In 2004, she came out of retirement. "I missed the training," Gotay said. "I'm a pretty intense person. I love training. I missed training for something, having a goal and working toward it. I came back not even knowing I was coming back."
She was invited to compete in the British Open and in 2007 was part of the United States
team at the Pan American Games
.
She retired again after 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
. Her younger sister Natalie Lafon is still competing.
Now she has her own business as personal training "Fitness by Val" in San Diego and she is also a judo trainer.
in Barcelona
but she had some health problems during losing weight. She did not enter into tournament although she was in draw.
At 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
she was eliminated in second round by Isabel Fernández
from Spain
. Gotay went to Beijing
with big (medal) ambitions but it was not very good tournament for her. She had already problems in first round with Gulzat Uralbayeva from Kazakhstan
. Three minutes before end she got second chance because Kazakh judoka made a technique which was counted only as wazari (it had to be ippon). After this moment, young Kazakh judoka became very passive. Gotay advantaged it and won by ippon
one minute before end.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a former judoka from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Gotay was born in San Diego. Her grandfather Piere Lafon and father Gerald Lafon are former judoplayers so she had good background for judo from youth. She began competing at age of 14.At 18 years old, Gotay was supposed to compete in the 1992 Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in extra-lightweight category. Unfortunately, after working hard to lose some kilos to make her weight category, she became extremely sick with uncontrollable and violent muscle contractions which forced her to withdraw from the competition.
She decided to stop competing after Barcelona
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Gotay later married and has two children Breanna (1997) and Isabella (2002).
In 2004, she came out of retirement. "I missed the training," Gotay said. "I'm a pretty intense person. I love training. I missed training for something, having a goal and working toward it. I came back not even knowing I was coming back."
She was invited to compete in the British Open and in 2007 was part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team at the Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
.
She retired again after 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Her younger sister Natalie Lafon is still competing.
Now she has her own business as personal training "Fitness by Val" in San Diego and she is also a judo trainer.
Judo
She could already start at 1992 Olympic Games1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
but she had some health problems during losing weight. She did not enter into tournament although she was in draw.
At 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
she was eliminated in second round by Isabel Fernández
Isabel Fernández
María Isabel Fernández Gutiérrez is a Spanish judoka. She is an Olympic champion, a world champion and six-time European champion. She won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and received an Olympic bronze medal in 1996.-References:...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Gotay went to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
with big (medal) ambitions but it was not very good tournament for her. She had already problems in first round with Gulzat Uralbayeva from Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. Three minutes before end she got second chance because Kazakh judoka made a technique which was counted only as wazari (it had to be ippon). After this moment, young Kazakh judoka became very passive. Gotay advantaged it and won by ippon
Ippon
Ippon literally "one full point", it is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest, usually judo, karate or jujutsu.-Ippon in judo:...
one minute before end.
Achievements
| Year | Tournament | Place | Weight class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Olympic Games 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
DNS | Extra-Lightweight (- 48 kg) |
| 1996 | Olympic Games | DNS | |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | DNS | |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | DNS | |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | 15th | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |
| Year | Tournament | Place | Weight class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pan American Games 2007 Pan American Games The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in... |
2nd | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |
| Year | Tournament | Place | Weight class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pan American Judo Championships | 1st | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |
| 2006 | Pan American Judo Championships | 3rd | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |
| 2007 | Pan American Judo Championships 2007 Pan American Judo Championships The 32nd Pan American Judo Championships were held in Centre Pierre Charbonneau in Montreal, Canada from 24th May to 26th May 2007.-Men's events:-Women's events:- Medals table :-External links:* ** *... |
1st | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |
| 2008 | Pan American Judo Championships 2008 Pan American Judo Championships The 32nd Pan American Judo Championships were held in Miami, USA from 8th May to 10th May 2008.-Men's events:-Women's events:- Medals table :-External links:**... |
1st | Lightweight (- 57 kg) |