Rimarys CARRASQUEL: “A medal is more than metal — it reflects hard work”

Venezuelan sambist Rimarys Carrasquel claimed double gold at the Pan American SAMBO Championships in Ecuador, winning the women’s -72 kg category in both Sport and Combat SAMBO. In an interview with the FIAS website, she spoke about the effort behind her success, her training routine, and the role SAMBO plays in her life.

“Behind every medal lies a huge amount of work”

“I’ve been competing at the Pan American Championships for three years now, but this is the first time I’ve taken gold – and in both disciplines,” Rimarys shared. “Every medal represents an enormous amount of work, which people don’t always see. For me, this is not only a personal achievement but a team victory. I’m especially grateful to my coach and husband, Luis Adrianza Lenin, who has always supported and guided me, keeping me disciplined. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Combat debut without equipment

While Rimarys has long competed in Sport SAMBO, her decision to enter the Combat SAMBO tournament came as a surprise – even to herself.

“I wasn’t planning to fight in Combat SAMBO at all,” she admitted. “But after doing well in the Sport competition, I felt strong and decided to give it a try. I didn’t have any gear – no uniform, no helmet, no shin guards, no mouthguard – I had to search for everything the night before. In one of the bouts, I knocked my opponent down, and even I was shocked. That’s not really in my nature – I don’t like aggression. But now I realize Combat SAMBO appeals to me too, and I want to keep competing in it.”

Balancing training, kids, and business

Rimarys juggles her athletic career with motherhood, family life, and running a business.

“Luis and I have two kids – our son is 8 and our daughter is 5. We run a company that produces sports shirts. We train twice a day: physical conditioning in the morning, technical training on the mat in the evening. In between, we handle work and family responsibilities. It’s not easy, but we make it work.”

Love at first tournament

“I met Luis at a SAMBO competition. I’d been training in SAMBO since I was 9, but I hadn’t seen him until I was 19. He started messaging me right away and was surprised that I didn’t know who he was. Later, we started dating – even though we lived far apart: he’s from Caracas, and I’m from Maracay. At first, I didn’t take it too seriously, especially since he’s quite a bit older. But now we have a strong family.”

Life on and off the mat

“Training with your husband has its pros and cons. On the mat, there are no special favors — he treats me like an athlete, not a wife. Sometimes I get upset, but we always talk things through. What matters most is that we’re a team – and a strong one.”

The future of SAMBO through the next generation?

“Our daughter loves SAMBO, but we want her to enjoy her childhood, so for now she’s doing gymnastics. Our son has a tougher personality, so maybe one day he’ll take up SAMBO. Right now, he’s swimming.”

“Thanks to SAMBO, I found my family”

“SAMBO didn’t just give me victories – it gave me a family. Through this sport, I met the love of my life, we had our children, and together we’re continuing our journey in SAMBO. Despite all the challenges, we are strong – together.”