Ex-UST Tiger judoka Annie Ramirez won her first world championship in the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation World Championships’ adult female -57kg division on Sunday, Nov. 2, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ramirez took down Sweden’s Astrid Scholin, 2-0, in the final to capture the title she had been working toward for nearly five years.
Ramirez actively stalled late in their match to seal the win, which gave her her first gold medal on the world stage after finishing with bronze last year.
“Matagal ko na talaga itong pinaghirapan. Since mga four years ago, nag-simula talaga akong i-target ‘to,” Ramirez told the Varsitarian. “Hindi kami nag-stop for this.”
“Sobrang saya kasi ‘yong weight category ko ‘yong isa sa mga weight classes na marami talaga laging contenders, hindi bumababa ng 20 people ang naka-entry doon.”
Ramirez, 34, started competing in the world championship in 2021 before finally securing the elusive gold this year.
“Most of the time consistent talaga ‘yong trainings namin. Never nagkakaroon ng off-season,” she said. “Binigay ko na talaga lahat on the preparation. ‘Yong difference lang is kung paano ako nagpupull-off during the actual matches.”
“Same mindset lang ako na parang one at a time lang ako every match.”
Also an Asian Games champion in 2023, Ramirez has built a strong résumé since leaving UST in 2014, winning gold medals in the Asian Championships, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the Asian Beach Games to dominate the continent.
She has also won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.
Ramirez now looks ahead to the SEA Games in December in Thailand, where she aims for her fourth regional gold before the year ends.
