Prisca Guadalupe Awiti Alcaraz is a Mexican judoka who won a silver medal in the -63 kg category at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, becoming the first Mexican athlete to win an Olympic medal in judo.
Born in 1996 in Enfield, England to a Kenyan father and Mexican mother, she represented Mexico starting in 2017 after previously competing for the UK.
Awiti relocated to Mexico in 2017 after featuring for Britain in a number of events but it became difficult for her to break into the national team.
“My weight category was very competitive in the UK, I was very stressed, close to giving up. Then my coach asked if I could get a Mexican passport,” she said.
Then, at the age of 21, she contacted the Mexican Judo Federation to request a change of allegiance, which she was granted in 2017.
Awiti faced challenges, including language barriers and cultural adjustment, but persevered, eventually winning several medals in international competitions.
She won gold at the Pan American Open in 2023 and a silver at the 2024 Olympics, marking a significant milestone for Mexican judo.
In addition to her Olympic success, Awiti Alcaraz finished fifth at the 2023 World Championships, showcasing her competitiveness among the world’s best judokas.
She has also excelled at the Pan American Championships, where she secured gold medals in both 2021 and 2023, further establishing her as a leading athlete in the region.
Awiti’s accomplishments also include winning gold medals at the Pan American Open in Santiago in 2019 and in Lima in 2023.
These achievements highlight her consistent performance and dedication to the sport, solidifying her reputation as one of Mexico’s top judokas.
In an interview with beIN Sports, Awiti also explained why she did not choose to switch her allegiance to Kenya where her father comes from.
“I had the choice to travel with the Kenyan team too, with my heritage. Mexico just seemed so open though and it made sense as we have such good contact
“I joined the team in 2017 and have loved it ever since, having spent all my childhood immersed in the culture through my mum,” she explained.