At only 5 years old, Aleia Aielle Aguilar has become the youngest world champion in the 2022 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships.
Aleia won the title after defeating Brazilian representative Gabriela Vercosa in the championship round of the kids’ 1 under 16kg event. Prior to the final round, Aleia also beat Abu Dhabi’s Maria El Halabi in the semi-final match.
Aleia is the youngest daughter of Alvin Aguilar and Maybelline Masuda. Alvin is the president and founder of Universal Reality Combat Championship and Maybelline was the first Filipino jiu-jitsu world champion in 2009.
Alvin shared a congratulatory social media post where he also shared photos of Aleia wearing the gold medal. “We are all SO PROUD of you. Even at such a young age you are already so organized and hardworking in everything you do. From academics to sports you always excel because you always work hard. I remember when you were two years old and you said you wanted to be the greatest. All of us knew you would but not this soon!!! Even before she fought she called me with her Mama to say “Papa I’ll show you my Gold Medal later ok?”