5’7”
46
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento City College
classification: J1
Name: Christella Garcia
Weight Category: +70 kg
Club: Team Sacramento Judo
Garcia practiced judo for several years as a young child and returned to the sport in her 20s with the goal of representing Team USA at the Paralympic Games. She qualified for her first Paralympic Team in 2012, finishing just off the podium in fifth in the 70 kg category. Garcia took several years off from the sport after London, but returned to competition in 2015 and ultimately moved up to the +70 kg category where she not only qualified for her second Paralympic Team in 2016 but claimed bronze in her new category - becoming just the second U.S. female judo athlete to medal at the Games. She followed that up with another bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Garcia won her first World Championship medal in 2023 and recently secured qualification for the 2024 Paralympic Games after a qualification season that included six IBSA Grand Prix podium finishes.
Garcia makes and sells hair and skin products under her Angel Hands brand. She also works part-time at Massage Envy as a licensed and certified message tech. In her free time, she enjoys reading and cooking.
2024:
2023:
2022:
Silver - IBSA Pan American Championships
2019:
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2016:
2015:
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2007:
PARIS, France – Christella Garcia (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento Judo) became a two-time Paralympic bronze medalist on Saturday. Eight years after capturing her first bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Games, the 45-year-old Garcia added a second...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – After seven Grand Prix tournaments, two World Championships and two Pan American Championships, Liana Mutia (Philadelphia, PA / El Idrissi Judo Academy) and Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) have each pu...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – After more than 18 months of qualifying tournaments, the final IBSA Grand Prix of the Paralympic selection period will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia this weekend.2024 IBSA Tbilisi Grand Prix Live StreamFour members of Team USA wi...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – Rio Paralympic bronze medalist Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) continued her winning streak in Heidelberg, Germany on Sunday, winning bronze and earning her fifth straight podium on the IBSA Grand Prix...
The qualification process for the 2024 Paralympic Games began on Sept. 1, 2022 and will continue through June 24, 2024 with athletes selected to participate in the Games based on the IBSA Judo World Ranking List where athletes earn points at events inc...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – With three tournaments remaining before qualification closes for the 2024 Paralympic Games, Liana Mutia (Philadelphia, PA / El Idriss Judo) and Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) each reached the podium f...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – Paralympians Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) and Liana Mutia (Philadelphia, PA / El Idrissi Judo) have stood on the podium at nearly every Paralympic qualifier this year in preparation for the Paris Ga...
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Two members of Team USA reached the podium at the first IBSA Grand Prix of the year with Paralympians Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) and Liana Mutia (Philadelphia, PA / El Idrissi Ju...
(Colorado Springs, CO) – Paralympians Liana Mutia (Philadelphia, PA / El Idrissi Judo Academy) and Christella Garcia (Sacramento, CA / Team Sacramento Judo) each came one step closer to a return trip to the world’s greatest stage on Thursday with bronz...
USA Judo is pleased to welcome you to the 2025 Youth National Championships at the Salt Palace Convention Center.The Youth Nationals draws more than 500 of the best athletes from ages 5-20 throughout the nation annually to vie for National Championship...
USA Judo is pleased to welcome you to the 2023 Youth National Championships at the Georgia International Convention Center.The Youth Nationals draws more than 500 of the best athletes from ages 5-20 throughout the nation annually to vie for National Ch...
