In fact, their recent election should not raise any questions, as the current Director of Sport, Kimberlie Rivera Tello, and Director of Education, Yuri Alvear, are simply there because they deserve it and have the skills; end of story. Really? Not exactly. In reality, it is clear that the world of sport is still often male-dominated and having women in these key positions within the PJC is significant, in the sense that it may inspire other women to say to themselves, "I can do it too!"
Yuri Alvear is far from unknown. A three-time world champion (Rotterdam 2009, Rio de Janeiro 2013 and Chelyabinsk 2014) and two-time Olympic medallist (Rio 2016 and London 2012), she was already a member of the IJF Sports Commission in recent years. She is now in charge of the entire education sector of the PJC. "I feel good being in that position. It's a big opportunity for me. As I was already working with the IJF, I have improved my skills a lot and now I am ready to give back to the continent.
You know, when I was an athlete, it was all about me, about my training and my performances. I was responsible for myself only. Now I have to take care of everyone and I want to give my best to improve the overall level. At the beginning I was a little stressed to go to athletes and coaches and tell them what to do, but as time goes on, the more I feel really good about it.
I think it's good to have women in all those positions, it's a really good thing. We can bring our own vision, our own way of thinking."
Kimberlie had a slightly different path in judo and this is also what brings diversity in the sport. "I started judo quite late, at university. I was 18 years old and I began competing only when I was 21. Quickly, in 2017, I got involved as a volunteer for the federation in Peru. I liked judo and I wanted to help but I would have never imagined that one day I'd become the PJC Sport Director.
I occupied all possible position within the volunteer world. I was managing the athletes at the entrance of the tatami, I worked for the transport department, for the accommodation team. I really had all possible jobs. It was fun and I learned a lot. One event, I was involved with the accreditation and I learned how the system worked. That's how I became further involved in that sector. We wanted to imitate the international standards at the local level.
My mentors were Carlos Zegarra Presser, Maria Martinez Murciego and Jose Humberto Rodriguez, to name a few. In 2019 the PJC invited me to join the team. I started to learn even more. Becoming the assistant of Maria at the Peruvian level and of Carlos at the PJC level was a fantastic school. They trusted me and some months ago I became the acting Sport Director. Now I have the official title.
It makes a big change. Before I could always say that the sport director asked for something, but now I am the sport director, so I decide and I choose. I have to face the situation and I am under the spotlight. I have to know everything but we always need to keep in mind that the most important people are the athletes and their coaches. We are doing everything in our power to improve the level. We are here to help.
At the beginning, some people would look at me and say, "You are a woman; do you have experience?" The problem is that I am a woman and I am also young and I sometimes had the feeling that I was treated like a child. With time and experience, I earned the respect. I also remember that when I was asking for change, people would say, "Kimberlie asked for it!" which is not true. In fact the rules asked for that change, not me. Things are changing though and having women like Yuri and I in those positions will even help further changes.
All I know and I have learned is that I need to be calm and smile because that’s how the team will feel good and will work better. I do hope that people will appreciate my way of working."
Oh yes, Kimberlie, everyone appreciates your way of working. What both Yuri and Kimberlie told us is that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, be true to yourself and work accordingly with respect. What we also learned is that more and more women should not only say "I can do it too!" but "I want to do it and I will do it!"