Against Branser in the final was Lieke Derks (NED), twice a grand prix medalist already, once in Zagreb and once in the first edition of the Upper Austria Grand Prix. It was Branser who went straight on the attack but Derks was happy to work through the transition phase into ne-waza and made it hard for Branser to recover. She did but with a renewed caution.
Just after the halfway point the Guinean judoka attacked again and the penalties began to arrive on Derks’ side of the scoreboard, two of them. Branser knew the gold was within reach. The contest moved into extra time but Branser kept her focus and after just 30 seconds threw Derks with a seoi-otoshi. The score was given and she punched the air in celebration. This is not only her first gold medal on the World Judo Tour but a first grand prix gold ever for Guinea.
In the first of the two bronze medal contests, Beatriz Freitas (BRA) faced Metka Lobnik (SLO). Both judoka hunted scores but ultimately it was the Slovenian who exercised her full power throwing for a waza-ari with sode-tsuri-komi-goshi and then holding on the ground for the required ten seconds; a second waza-ari to end the contest and claim the bronze medal.
The last podium spot of the category. Would be occupied by Coralie Godbout (CAN) or Ukraine’s Yuliia Kurchenko. The latter won gold in Austria in 2025 and would be looking to finish her day on the podium, at least. It was not easy at all but Kurchenko found the space to register an all-important yuko just seconds before the end of normal time.
It had been a challenging day but Kurchenko had her second Upper Austria Grand Prix medal in as many editions.
Final (-78 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-78 kg)
