Carmen Chalá

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Chalá and the second or maternal family name is Quilumba.

Carmen Anita Chalá Quilumba (born June 7, 1976) is a judoka and former field athlete from Ecuador.

Carmen Chalá

Personal information
Full name	Carmen Anita Chalá Quilumba
Born	June 7, 1976 (1976-06-07) (age 47) Carchi, Ecuador
Medal record Women's judo Representing Ecuador Pan American Games 2007 Rio de Janeiro + 78 kg 1999 Winnipeg + 78 kg 2003 Santo Domingo + 78 kg Pan American Judo Championships 2005 Caguas +78 kg 2005 Caguas Openweight 2006 Buenos Aires +78 kg 2007 Montreal +78 kg 2008 Miami Openweight 2009 Buenos Aires +78 kg 2009 Buenos Aires Openweight South American Games 2002 Rio de Janeiro + 78 kg 2002 Rio de Janeiro Openweight 2006 Buenos Aires Openweight 2006 Buenos Aires + 78 kg 2010 Medellín + 78 kg 2010 Medellín Openweight Women's athletics South American Games 1990 Lima Shot put 1990 Lima Discus throw 1990 Lima Heptathlon Bolivarian Games 1993 Cochabamba Shot put 1993 Cochabamba Discus throw 1989 Maracaibo Shot put

Early life, family and education

Carmen was born in the Ecuadoran province Carchi but at heart she is from Manabí. Her family has many athletes in it: older sister Eva, and younger sisters Diana and Vanessa have all been national judo team members.

Athletic career

Carmen Chalá was a national champion in athletics in shot put and discus throw. However, by 1995, realizing that there are not many chances to be a successful field athlete at an international level, she began learning and practicing judo. She was 29 years old, considered very late to begin an endeavor like that. Her older sister Eva Chalá inspired her to try judo as she was already involved in it herself; Eva later became a referee for the sport as well.

After only a month of judo training, Carmen became a national heavyweight champion. In the final, she defeated Olympian María Cangá, whom Carmen considered the nation's top female judo athlete.

Although her success has been primarily within South American contests, Chalá participated at three Olympic Games but won only one match, defeating Sandra Köppen of Germany at the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2009, she wanted to join in politics but later delayed her candidature. She decided to continue as an athlete, aspiring to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but she did not.

Achievements

Year	Tournament	Place	Weight class
2000	Olympic Games	AC	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2004	Olympic Games	AC	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2008	Olympic Games	18th	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)

Year	Tournament	Place	Weight class
1999	Pan American Games	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2003	Pan American Games	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2007	Pan American Games	2nd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)

Year	Tournament	Place	Weight class
2005	Pan American Judo Championships	1st	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2005	Pan American Judo Championships	1st	Openweight
2006	Pan American Judo Championships	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2006	Pan American Judo Championships	8th	Openweight
2007	Pan American Judo Championships	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2007	Pan American Judo Championships	7th	Openweight
2008	Pan American Judo Championships	5th	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2008	Pan American Judo Championships	3rd	Openweight
2009	Pan American Judo Championships	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2009	Pan American Judo Championships	3rd	Openweight
2010	Pan American Judo Championships	5th	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2010	Pan American Judo Championships	10th	Openweight

Year	Tournament	Place	Weight class
2002	South American Games	1st	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2002	South American Games	2nd	Openweight
2006	South American Games	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2006	South American Games	2nd	Openweight
2010	South American Games	3rd	Heavyweight (+ 78 kg)
2010	South American Games	3rd	Openweight

External links

• Carmen Chalá on Facebook
• Carmen Chalá at JudoInside.com
• Carmen Chalá at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• Carmen Chalá at World Athletics
• Carmen Chalá at Olympics.com