-81kg: Cavelius Came Close but Tato Triumphs

The bottom half of the draw did not enjoy such plain sailing and in round 2 we lost Schimidt (BRA), the number 3 seed and in he next round we lost Casse (BEL) to Fernando of Portugal. Djalo (FRA) then took an opportunity to reach the final block, beating Fernando by waza-ari from a delightful and skilful ko-uchi-gari executed in the first 12 seconds of the contest.

Unseeded German Cavelius had an incredible day in Paris. He took out the Brazilian and then Del Orbe Cortorreal (DOM) before throwing Gauthier-Drapeau (CAN) twice for a place in the semi-final. Hurdling Djalo then put him in the final. Surely he couldn’t win that too, could he?

Tatalashvili (UAE) and Djalo (FRA) contested the first bronze medal. It was fast and it was shrouded in an exciting energy but with perhaps a lack of control. Tatalashvili picked up a shido and then there was one each. There were many opportunities for attacks but none capitalised on with conviction, neither wishing to offer the space for the other to highlight a mistake. Eventually the third shido came for the UAE athlete and an emotional Djalo brought a first day 2 medal to the home team.

Gauthier-Drapeau (CAN) and Albayrak (TUR) fought for the second bronze and it was an all-power match. Either could throw at any moment but at the halfway point it was the Canadian who latched on with an enormous o-soto-gari, scoring ippon and landing a place on the podium.

The final began with the unlikely challenger attacking with tomoe-nage. It was a courageous start, showing that the German had no fear. Tato is known for his feeling in the moment, his ability to twist and turn into or out of the space as needed. 1 minute and 47 seconds in and Cavelius attacked again, this time with a pick-up from around the waist. Tato felt it and adjusted his weight, driving the German into the tatami. It was ippon and a first Paris gold for Tato and also a first Paris medal for the German.