Jessica Caroline achieved the top of the podium at 2023 IBJJF Pan Championships in a thrilling final, adding to her collection for the season. The 29-year old roosterweight also took home gold at the European Open earlier this year. This most recent win brings Jessica one step closer to a Grand Slam. 

Jessica said she was energized at Pans by the support of her R1NG team. “My division was full of many tough women,” she added. “It felt great going against them.” The resilience she demonstrated on the mats rings out in the story of her journey.

When she was 20 years old, she decided she wanted to grow more in the sport and sought out an academy that would provide this. She drove six hours a day to train under Alessandro Nunes. She left at 8 in the morning and would not get home till 1am the following night, for years. She collected titles at all the color belts until she earned her black belt in 2019 from her husband and teacher. The following year her daughter, Sofia, was born. Jessica was back on the mats training 4 months later. She returned to competition the following year.

Jessica has been working hard all year “I have been preparing since the beginning of the year with my focus always being on main competitions,” she said. She added that becoming a mother has helped her in her success in the sport.

Her journey as a mother has made her more disciplined and stronger. She hopes to be an example to other women. That they too can reach a high level and experience what she does even with all the difficulties that come with parenting. 

In her own words “Just train, believe, and make it happen.” 

That is exactly what she did in her performance at Pans. Now, the athlete looks towards Brasileiros and Worlds, striving to accomplish the Grand Slam in her breakout year.