Estela Riley competed at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She also won a gold medal at the 1993 Central American Championship in Nicaragua. Following her athletic career, she was called upon to help the federation structure itself better. After a transition period, she became president for two terms, from 2015 to 2022, before handing over to Milvia Mendoza. The connection between the two presidents doesn't end there, as Estela Riley's coach was none other than Milvia's father, Theophilo Mendoza.
Judo has been passed down in Panama for several generations, gradually allowing the federation to move forward. Estela Riley explains, "I never thought I would become president. I was primarily interested in sports development but it was important that I could help the entire Panamanian judo community. After two terms, I had to step down. It seemed only natural that Milvia should take over. Before that, of course, she had to be elected, which she did perfectly.”
Milvia Mendoza, who has an administrative background, is now at the helm. "Our goal isn't just to train good judoka, we also want to develop a generation of better citizens. We believe that judo has the ability to build a better future for its practitioners. It's about altruism and determination, whether on the mat, with family, friends or at work."
The federation's goal is to see a Panamanian judoka on a world or Olympic podium one day. To achieve this, there's still a lot of work to be done, both in terms of the federal structure and in finding sponsors. With the personalities of Milvia Mendoza and Estela Riley, it's clear that the Panamanian Judo Federation has some very strong assets. Their ability to communicate is contagious and is central to the development of judo in Panama.