Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's football star Lionel Messi on Sunday congratulated his countrywoman, Paula Pareto, who won the country's first gold medal in judo on Saturday.

"Congratulations to la Peque (Pareto's nickname) for winning Argentina's first gold medal. So many years of effort were worth it! I hope this will be the first of many for our country at these Olympic Games!" wrote the Barcelona forward on his Facebook profile.

Pareto, 30, won gold in the women's 48kg judo category, bettering her performance in Beijing 2008 when she won bronze.

Until then, no Argentinean women had ever won gold in this Olympic event and Pareto also became the first from her country to win two gold medals in judo.

Messi won gold of his own in Beijing 2008 when Argentina won the men's football competition.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by Xinhua News Agency

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