This fifth day therefore offered us two new exceptional champions. One was already known, because Olympic champion three years ago in Tokyo, Lasha Bekauri (GEO), did it again in the French Capital. The other is new. Actually, she is not quite new since she was already twice a world champion before this 31st July 2024, but this evening, she has entered a new dimension.
Barbara Matic flew over the -70kg category and offered champagne judo, on the attack all the time and eventually showing her most beautiful smile at the end of the day. It’s a first Olympic title for 'Barbie' Matic, first Olympic medal for Croatia, a golden day.
Magnificent in all his excess, in all his splendour, Lasha Bekauri thus inscribes his name for the second time in the Olympic pantheon. An exploit in itself, while he had seemed a little out of breath during the first rounds but as the competition progressed, we saw him gain strength. In his very particular style, he seemed invincible, even when he was thrown by Murao at the beginning of the final.
Behind these great champions, we were treated to some very beautiful judo throughout the day. Some of the medallists were not among the favourites this morning, they are now on the podium. This is the case of Theodoros Tselidis (GRE) and Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou (FRA) in the men's category.
In the women's category, there are regulars of course, but also a new generation that is pushing hard and we see a strong European contingent since the four medal-winning judoka are all from the old continent: Matic but also Miriam Butkereit (GER), Michaela Polleres (AUT) and Gabriella Willems (BEL).
There are already 22 countries that have won medals in Paris, a symbol of great diversity and universality. Tomorrow will be the light heavyweight day with the -100kg and the -78kg categories. See you at 10:00 sharp.