Valerie Gotay Professional judo wrestler, participant of the 2008 Olympics Date of Birth: 05.11.1973 Country: USA

1. Biography of Valerie Gotei
2. Early Life and Career
3. Olympic Struggles and Career Break
4. Return to Wrestling
5. Current Life

Biography of Valerie Gotei

Valerie Gotei, a professional judo wrestler and participant of the 2008 Olympics, began practicing judo at a young age. She grew up in a family of athletes, with her father being the manager of a judo club, which provided her with excellent professional training. All the children in the Gotei family are involved in sports, including Valerie's sister, Natalie, who also professionally wrestles.

Early Life and Career

Valerie Gotei was born on November 5, 1973, in Temecula, California. She is a professional wrestler specializing in judo. In 2008, she joined the American Olympic team and competed in the Olympics in Beijing. Gotei started practicing judo at a young age and grew up in a family of athletes. Her father's role as a judo club manager allowed her to receive exceptional professional training. Besides judo, Valerie is also passionate about sports such as football and gymnastics. She began competing internationally in judo at the age of 14.

Olympic Struggles and Career Break

In 1992, at the age of 18, Valerie took part in her first Olympic Games. However, she was unable to showcase her skills appropriately, which led her to fall into a deep depression. After her disappointing Olympic performance, she decided to leave her sports career behind. Valerie enrolled in San Diego State University and pursued a higher education degree in Psychology. In 1996, she got married and gave birth to two daughters, Brinna and Isabella. Several years later, Valerie went through a painful divorce.

Return to Wrestling

After a 12-year break since the Barcelona Games, Valerie decided to make a comeback in the world of sports. A chance sparring session with her father revealed her true talent and prompted her to embark on a "new" career. Her first competition upon her return was the "British Open," where she effortlessly made it to the finals. In 2004, Valerie Gotei participated in the Olympic Games and solidified her status as a professional judoka. In 2007, she won a silver medal at the "Pan-Am Games."

Current Life

Currently, Valerie Gotei resides and trains in Texas. As a mature athlete approaching 35 years of age, Valerie is the mother of two daughters who live separately from her. She made the difficult choice between her children and pursuing her career in professional sports since she couldn't fully concentrate on training while in their presence. Valerie suffers from the separation from her daughters and can go months without seeing them. However, she occasionally travels to California to visit them. Being away from loved ones is the greatest challenge for the athlete.