In the second round Podolak threw Olympic and double world champion Silva (BRA) for waza-ari in the last 20 seconds and held on to the lead confidently before throwing Kajzer (SLO) for ippon in the quarter-final.
We know that winning the semi-final guarantees a medal and that losing that contest leaves an uncomfortable uncertainty with the next fight yielding a medal or a 5th place, a big difference. Podolak suffered here, losing to Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Gneto (FRA) to drop into the bronze medal contest.
Further down the draw, Funakubo (JPN) was the only top 4 seed to make it all the way, disposing of world medallist Kowalczyk (POL), Batsukh (UAE) and Seija Ballhaus (GER) before taking out 19 year old Pardayeva (TKM), who has been getting stronger and stronger as the months have passed.
Pardayeva knocked out number 3 seed Tina Nelson Levy ISR) in round two and then European champion Kurbonmamadova (AIN) in the quarter-final She dropped into the bronze medal contest after losing her semi-final, to face Pauline Starke (GER), the 4th seed. Could the teenager defy the odds to reach her first grand slam podium?
Pauline Starke, among the top seeds of the day, was not prepared to allow it! She brought a very physical fight to Pardayeva and eventually held her down. The latter had an eccellent day and showed signs of a bright future but today the medal was for the German.
The second bronze medal was fought for by Ballhaus and Podolak. It was a very close match, 3 shido awarded between them but no real gap to be found. Going into extra time, the Polish athlete looked to find new energy stores, using them to swing under Ballhaus with a seoi-otoshi to score waza-ari and secure her first ever grand slam medal.
Gneto and Funakubo both have immense experience and a contest between them is complex. They know the rules and how to apply them; they can also both throw! One has an olympic medal, albeit from 12 years ago whilke the other has two world medals and all that experience showed on the tatami.
WIth 54 seconds to go, Gneto swung under under her Japanese adversary, hooking her outside leg to block a step away, knocking her down just enough to score waza-ari, after review. Holding that lead from two penalties down was not easy and on the final bell another review took place, to ensure there was enough angement from Gneto, and there was. She finished her day with a positive score, a gold medal and 1000 world ranking points.
Final (-57 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-57 kg)
