Melissa Mojica

{{Infobox judoka

| image =

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| full_name = Melissa Mojica Rosario

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|12|29}}

| birth_place = Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico

| death_date =

| death_place =

| years_active = 2005–2016

| height = 5 ft 10 in

| weight = 265 lb{{Cite web |url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/J/U/JUW178402_ContestResults_2016_08_12_1a910600_a667_4f91_8556_9da54aa0dac5.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920113049/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/J/U/JUW178402_ContestResults_2016_08_12_1a910600_a667_4f91_8556_9da54aa0dac5.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-20 |url-status=dead }}

| country = Puerto Rico

| weight_class = +78 kg

| rank =

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| worlds_rank = 7

| worlds_year = 2021

| worlds_weight = Women's +78 kg

| regionals_type = AM

| regionals_rank = 1

| regionals_year = 2008

| regionals_weight =

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = R16

| olympics_year = 2012

| olympics_weight = Women's +78 kg

| olympics_year2 = 2016

| olympics_weight2 = Women's +78 kg

| show-medals =

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{{Medal|Country| {{PUR}} }}

| updated = November 27, 2022

}}

Melissa Mojica Rosario (born December 29, 1983) is a Puerto Rican judoka.{{cite Sports-Reference}}

Early and personal life

She was born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico,{{cite news|url=http://www.holsumpr.com/melissa-mojica-rosario-judo|title=Melissa Mojica Rosario, Judo|author=Holsum|language=Spanish|date=2010|accessdate=2012-08-21}} on December 29, 1983. She is {{convert|120.2|kg}}.{{Cite web |url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/J/U/JUW178402_ContestResults_2016_08_12_1a910600_a667_4f91_8556_9da54aa0dac5.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920113049/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/J/U/JUW178402_ContestResults_2016_08_12_1a910600_a667_4f91_8556_9da54aa0dac5.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-20 |url-status=dead }} Her parents are Carmelo Mojica and Julia Rosario, and she has two sisters: Melani and Julisa.{{cite web|url=http://www.copur.pr/atletas.php?bio=205|title=Melissa Mojica|publisher=COPUR|year=2012|accessdate=2012-08-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815064933/http://www.copur.pr/atletas.php?bio=205|archivedate=2012-08-15}} Mojica went to the Medardo Carazo High School and studied Biology at University of Turabo.

Judo career

Mojica won the bronze medal in both, the open{{cite news|url=http://www.terra.com/deportes/articulo/html/fox267313.htm|title=Cartagena: Dominicana y Venezuela sacan oro|location=Cartagena, Colombia|agency=AP|newspaper=Terra|language=Spanish|date=2006-07-29|accessdate=2012-08-01}} and the over 78 kg division of the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games.{{cite news|url=http://www.colombia.com/deportes/noticias/DetalleNoticia20055.asp|title=Judo: Cuba ganó cuatro medallas de oro y se afianza|agency=EFE|author=colombia.com|language=Spanish|date=2006-07-26|accessdate=2012-08-18}} She won the gold medal in the 2008 Pan American Judo Championships in Miami.{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/Xstatic/endi/template/imprimir.aspx?id=403548&t=3|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122061157/http://www.elnuevodia.com/Xstatic/endi/template/imprimir.aspx?id=403548&t=3|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-22|title=Sendas preseas de oro en Miami|newspaper=El Nuevo Dia|language=Spanish|date=2008-05-11|accessdate=2012-08-21}}

She won the gold medal in the over 78 kg and the open category, as well the silver in the team competition at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in her home country, Puerto Rico.

At the 2011 Pan American Games she lost the final to the Cuban Idalys Ortiz to win the silver medal at the +78 kg category in the regional games held in Guadalajara, Mexico.{{cite news|url=http://deportespe.terra.com.pe/rumbo-a-2012/guadalajara-2011/noticias/0,,OI5437568-EI17445,00-Cuba+alza+el+oro+y+Puerto+Rico+la+plata+en+los+kilos+femenino+de+judo.html|title=Sendas Cuba alza el oro y Puerto Rico la plata en los 78 kilos femenino de judo|agency=EFE|newspaper=Terra|language=Spanish|date=2011-11-26|accessdate=2012-08-21}}

Mojica won in May 2012, the silver medal at the Moscow Grand Slam, after being defeated by the Brazilian Maria Suelen Altheman who won her category gold medal.{{cite news|url=http://judopaulista.uol.com.br/2012/judopaulista_2012mai28b.htm|title=Maria Suelen Altheman comemora título e revanche contra Porto-Riquenha no Grand Slam de Moscou|agency=MR Comunicação|last=Rosário|first=Myrian|newspaper=Judo Paulista|language=Portuguese|date=2012-05-28|accessdate=2012-08-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121231202604/http://judopaulista.uol.com.br/2012/judopaulista_2012mai28b.htm|archivedate=2012-12-31}} At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she defeated the Saudi teenager Wojdan Shaherkani, who competed with a special hijab, in only 82 seconds.{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/sports/london2012/judo/article/1236486--london-2012-saudi-arabia-s-1st-female-judo-athlete-loses-bout-in-82-seconds |title= London 2012: Saudi Arabia's 1st female judo athlete loses bout in 82 seconds |agency= Associated Press |publisher= Toronto Star |date= 3 August 2012 }} After the combat Mojica claimed that she does not care about religious issues, but every woman should have the opportunity to compete at the Olympics.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/saudi-judoka-makes-historic-olympic-appearance/article4459592/|title=Saudi judoka makes historic Olympic appearance|last=Waldie|first=Paul|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=2012-08-03|accessdate=2012-08-01}} She then lost to Russian Elena Ivashchenko by Ippon in the second round, ending her participation in the +78 kg category at London, United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=http://deportes.terra.com.co/mas-deportes/resultados-de-la-final-de-la-categoria-de-78-kg-mujeres-de-judo,b3663fc7c3de8310VgnVCM10000098cceb0aRCRD.html|title=Resultados de la final de la categoría de +78 kg mujeres de judo|agency=AFP|newspaper=Terra|language=Spanish|date=2012-08-03|accessdate=2012-08-21}}

Achievements

class=wikitable
style="background:#ccc;" !Year !!Tournament !!Place !!Weight class
2005	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"\| 2nd	Openweight
2006	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2006	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Openweight
2007	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"\| 2nd	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2007	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:white; text-align:center;"\| 5th	Openweight
2007	Pan American Games \| style="background:white; text-align:center;"\| 5th	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2007	World Judo Championships \| style="background:white; text-align:center;"\| AC	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2008	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2008	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:gold; text-align:center;"\| 1st	Openweight
2009	World Judo Championships \| style="background:white; text-align:center;"\| AC	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2010	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Heavyweight (+78 kg)
2010	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Openweight
2011	Pan American Judo Championships \| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"\| 3rd	Heavyweight (+78 kg)