What we absolutely could not ignore though was an explosive first round between two world champions and Olympic medallists, one gold in Rio in 2016, Rafaela Silva (BRA), the other bronze in Tokyo in 2021, Jessica Klimkait (CAN). Neither of them were seeded, since they are among those judoka who have decided to change category. The probability that they would meet in the early rounds was therefore high and this was the case.
We were very quickly informed about the form of Silva and Klimkait, the latter leaving no chance for her opponent to express herself. A first waza-ari from a shoulder movement, followed by an immobilisation for ippon in less than two minutes, and Klimkait went to the next round where she beat another high value judoka of the category, Lubjana Piovesana (AUT). In the semi-final, Klimkait defeated Natalia Kropska (POL) with her trademark seoi-otoshi. The competition has been warned, the Canadian judoka is starting to find her marks in her new category.
Meanwhile, Joanne Van Lieshout discreetly reached her semi-final to meet Minami Aono (JPN). Even if on paper the current world champion was supposed to be able to dominate her opponent, which she did with her kumi-kata, she was never in a position to throw, while Aono scored yuko twice to reach the final.
The final opposed the newcomer in the category, Jessica Klimkait, and Minami Aono (JPN). Always attacking first with her seoi-otoshi, Jessica Klimkait pushed Aono to be penalised. Even if she seemed to be a little less powerful than her opponent, which can be explained by the change of category, the Canadian was always moving. With 1 minute and 14 seconds to go, the Japanese athlete was logically penalised a third time. The gold medal was for Klimkait at her first big competition at -63 kg. Challenge accepted!
The first bronze medal contest saw Florentina Ivanescu (ROU) and Natalia Kropska (POL) facing each other for a place on the podium. Normal time ended with no score and just one shido for Ivanescu. After 15 seconds of the golden score period, Florentina Ivanescu lost focus for one second, coming out of an attack she didn't see that Natalia Kropska had initiated an o-uchi-gari for waza-ari. This is the first medal of Natalia Kropska at this level.
Lubjana Piovesana (AUT) and Joanne Van Lieshout (NED) completed the final block in the category. Lubjana Piovesana pocketed a tactical win after her opponent was penalised in golden score.
Final (-63 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-63 kg)
