Road to Paris 2024: 25-Year-Old Double Pan Am Judo Champion All Set To Represent Team USA At The Paralympics

Paris is poised to make history by hosting its inaugural Paralympic Games, marking France’s second stint as host nation. This year promises an abundance of excitement with several new sports making their Olympic debut, including Skateboarding, Surfing, and Judo. Amidst these, the name that shines brightest is an American Paralympic judoka who is a phenom.

She boasts two Pan American titles, along with two bronzes from the World Championship and a silver from the Parapan American Games. Having competed in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, she now aims to leverage her momentum towards making a lasting impact at the Paris Paralympic Games in 2024.

A rising star toward the greatest stages

From the shadows of her high school wrestling career to the international stage of the Paralympics, Liana Mutia’s journey embodies the spirit of unwavering dedication and unrelenting effort. In an exclusive interview with NBC Philadelphia, Liana shared her thoughts on the upcoming Paris Olympics. In her words, “It would be an honor. I want to represent my country on one of the greatest stages.” She further acknowledges that she isn’t particularly strong or aggressive, she emphasizes her reliance on intelligence in combat.

She recognizes her emerging talent. It sets a positive outlook for the upcoming games. However, Liana’s early years were marked by a challenging battle with progressive vision loss. Despite this hurdle, her passion for judo remained unwavering. Each setback only fueled her determination, as seen in 2023.

Liana Mutia fighting toward the spotlight

In November last year, Liana Mutia showcased her prowess. She clinched her fourth medal of the year at a Paralympic qualifier. Her exceptional performance secured her a silver medal finish at the Parapan American Games held in Santiago, Chile. Entering the 57 kg event, the 25-year-old software analyst brought with her a string of achievements from the season. Such as the bronze medal at the IBSA World Games and Grand Prix medals in Azerbaijan and Portugal earlier in the year.

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Mutia faced off against the three-time Paralympic Lucia Araujo (BRA), who emerged as a formidable adversary. Despite a valiant effort, Mutia’s attack was countered in overtime, leading to Araujo’s victory. It’s worth noting that Mutia attributes her success both on and off the mat. Her dedication sets the stage for an exciting journey as we anticipate her performance in Paris 2024.

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