Lucia Borregales and Luisaigna Campos on Their World Cadet, Youth & Junior SAMBO Championships Medal and Faith in Each Other

Lucia Borregales of Venezuela won silver at the World Cadet, Youth & Junior SAMBO Championships 2026 in Thessaloniki in the Cadets’ 47 kg category (girls). It was her first competition on the international stage and her first trip outside her country. At her side at the tournament was her mother and coach, Luisaigna Campos, a Combat SAMBO world champion, a World Championships medalist in Sport SAMBO and a multiple Pan-American champion in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO. After the competition, the athlete and her mother shared their emotions.

“First of all, I’m grateful to God, because the chance to be here is his gift. He saw my efforts and gave me strength when I didn’t feel capable of winning. I’m very proud of myself and grateful to everyone who supported me, and to my mom, as my coach, for always believing in me and always being there. A world-level medal is a chance given by God to experience these emotions and this happiness, and then to bring this important award home to my country,” said Lucia.

The athlete called her mother the main pillar of her life.

“My mom is the foundation of my life. God gave me the chance to have a mother and coach who is always there for me, who motivates me day after day. Through her achievements in sport, she was able to inspire me to always give my all, to do it with all my heart and to always believe in God. She is my right hand and the one who always guides me along the path God has prepared for me,” the athlete said.

For Luisaigna Campos herself, watching her daughter’s bouts is a special ordeal, despite her own extensive competitive experience.

“When I compete myself, of course I get nervous, but watching your daughter compete is real torture for a mother. Because I know what it means to be in there. I know her abilities: she’s a good athlete and very disciplined. But as a mother, I get very, very nervous. Still, I have to control those nerves to support her, so that she can feel that strength in me, step onto the mat and show the best she is capable of, for herself, for God and for me,” Luisaigna said.

In the arena, Luisaigna wore a T-shirt that read “MAMA DE LUCIA B.C” (“Lucia B.C.’s mom”).

“It was her idea,” Lucia confirmed, pointing to her mother. “She came up with this T-shirt so that everyone could see who her daughter is and why she’s here. And so everyone would know she’s proud of me.”

Luisaigna explained her idea simply.

“I knew what my daughter was capable of, and that she would be able to win a medal. That’s why this T-shirt appeared: I was sure she would win a world-level medal. I wanted gold, but any medal is welcome. The main thing is to be on the podium and represent our country,” she said.

The World Cadet, Youth & Junior SAMBO Championships were not only Lucia’s first international tournament, but also her first trip abroad.

“This is my first time representing Venezuela on the international stage. I had never left the country before, not even on vacation. But all the people who stand behind me supported me, and that’s why I’m here. God put in their hearts the desire to support and trust this story, which is only just beginning,” the young athlete said.

Asked what she will remember besides the medal, Lucia answered thoughtfully.

“The experience of coming here will be unforgettable. It will remind me what I’m capable of, things I didn’t even suspect, and that you must always trust God and keep going despite hardships. Even if a thousand storms pass, you have to get up and continue on your path, because God has a purpose for you. That’s what I will remember,” she said.

The Borregales family regularly finds itself on the podium at competitions of various levels. Just a few months ago, Neilys Alejandra Borregales Bello made a strong statement by winning gold at the Pan-American Championships in the women’s 50 kg Sport SAMBO category. Asked about the secret of the family’s success, Luisaigna Campos answered briefly.

“The secret is that we love our sport, we are very disciplined and consistent, and we have a lot of faith. And faith moves mountains, which is why God works through us,” she said.

Lucia backed up her mother and added a message of her own.

“My mom has already said everything. Faith is the first thing you must always have, and never let the flame that God lights in you go out,” the athlete noted.

Asked about her idols, Lucia said that her main inspiration comes from her parents.

“I don’t really have an idol, but I do have inspiration. My inspiration is my mom and my dad. Nobody else. Because if anyone believed in me from the very beginning, it was only the two of them. They were always by my side and always trusted me, even when I made mistakes and even when I was undisciplined. But they always, always believed in me, and that’s why they are my inspiration: they are not only my parents but also my coaches, and they set an example of courage and love for the sport,” she said.

The family’s next big event is the World SAMBO Championships, which will take place in November in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Luisaigna Campos, a Combat SAMBO world champion, will compete as part of the Venezuelan delegation, with her husband Lucas Borregales supporting her from the coach’s chair. Lucia will keep gaining experience so that one day she can step onto the senior world stage herself.

The story of the Borregales family is a story of how SAMBO is passed from generation to generation, not just as a sport but as a way of life, where mom and dad are champions, coaches and sources of inspiration, and the main medal is faith in each other.