Final: Emma Reid (ENG) vs Maria Swan (AUS)
Defending Commonwealth Games champion and a world bronze medallist, Emma Reid was the favourite at the beginning of the day. She flew through her draw to confirm she was there to win, reaching the final without obstruction. Maria Swan, Oceania champion, did the same on the other side of the draw and so the line-up was secured.
In the final, Emma Reid got caught short right at the beginning of the contest, thrown for a yuko by a confident Maria Swan. Reid went straight to work hunting for a ne-waza win. Reid is comfortable on the ground and often wins when down a score by heading into ne-waza. This was a plan that worked again at the SEC Arena. She pounced on Swan at her earliest opportunity and worked hard to secure a juji-gatame. The ippon came; Reid had defended her 2022 title successfully.
Bronze Medal Contest: Ishroop Narang (IND) vs Coralie Godbout (CAN)
This was a fiercely fought contest between two focused judoka. Both attacked, both defended skilfully and both were committed to their respective plans. It stayed as close as a fight could be right to the wire and so golden score ensued. There, Coralie Godbout, already a World Judo Tour medallist, found her rhythm and threw for a yuko with o-uchi-gari, upgrading her 2022 Commonwealth Games 5th place to a podium finish.
Bronze Medal Contest: Shelley Ludford (ENG) vs Zanet Michaelidou (CYP)
Michaelidou was strong and fearless all day, only losing to Reid on her way to the last final block of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She came out with the same positive attitude in her bronze medal contest and threw Ludford for a yuko very early, surprising the Englishwoman. Ludford piled on the pressure and clawed back two penalties but time didn’t allow for a third and so the bronze was claimed by Zanet Michaelidou.
Medallists
GOLD Emma Reid (ENG)
SILVER Maria Swan (AUS)
BRONZE Coralie Godbout (CAN)
BRONZE Zanet Michaelidou (CYP)
+78 kg: Sydnee Andrews is the New Commonwealth Champion
Final: Sydnee Andrews (NZL) vs Richelle Anita Soppi Mbella (CMR)
This was not likely to be straight forward for either competitor. Both have World Judo Tour experience and both have the capability of throwing with great speed and power. However, on this occasion it was Andrews who took her chance. In a highly mobile exchange she took Soppy Mbella to the ground and held her down for ippon. This is New Zealand’s first and only judo medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and it is a gold!
Bronze Medal Contest: Marie Loanne Durhone (MRI) vs Karra Hanna (BAH)
This was an active, dynamic contest from the outside, Hanna’s left-handed leg techniques contrasting Durhone’s right-handed seoi-otoshi attempts. As the time ticked down, Hanna’s strategy seemed to be more solid and Durhone collected one shido and then another. With the pressure on her, Durhone began to lose position and Hanna capitalised, throwing for a waza-ari almost on the bell. The Bahamas has their first judo medal of this Commonwealth Games.
Bronze Medal Contest: Gabriella Wood (TTO) vs Marthe Yokebed Gnacadja Avaro (GAB)
Marthe Yokebed Gnacadja Avaro wasted no time at all! She followed a step-by-step approach with winning as her only goal; fight for the best grip, move into position, break balance and attack. Applying an excellently timed osoto-gari, Gnacadja Avaro scored waza-ari and transitioned into the hold perfectly. As “waza-ari-awasete” was called, the Gabonese athlete jumped up to celebrate her special win.
Medallists
GOLD Sydnee Andrews (NZL)
SILVER Richelle Anita Soppi Mbella (CMR)
BRONZE Karra Hanna (BAH)
BRONZE Marthe Yokebed Gnacadja Avaro (GAB)