+78 kg: Souza Steps Back into the Spotlight

In Lima she finally found her footing and once again looked like the incredible athlete we remember from the Champs Du Mars. It was great to see her come through the field in the preliminary session to reach the final. This was no guarantee of gold but it was a guaranteed medal, her first on the World Judo Tour in this new Olympic cycle.

Final: Beatriz Souza (BRA) vs Asya Tavano (ITA)

A renewed Beatriz Souza maintained the momentum from the morning session and arrived in the final with the same determination and confidence we enjoyed so much in the early rounds.

Souza put a first score on the board early and soon followed it up with an inescapable pin. Tavano had no answer for Souza today but her silver medal puts her in a great place at this early stage of the Olympic qualification period.

Beatriz Souza was happy to express herself after the final, “I’m very happy with this result; it proves the daily hard work is paying off as we build toward this new Olympic goal. After taking time off last year to rest mentally and recover from injuries, this comeback is all about progress. Today went really well because I was able to transfer what I’ve been practising on the training mat directly into competition."

Bronze medal contest: Thauana Silva (BRA) vs Karen Leon (VEN)

Thauana Silva offered Karen Leon no space at all, scoring three times with excellent movement that led into powerful techniques. Leon chased hard but Silva’s defences were impregnable.

This is Silva’s first grand prix and therefore her medal represents a trajectory that offers great potential.

Bronze medal contest: Brigitte Carabali (COL) vs Raz Hershko (ISR)

Raz Hershko is a world and Olympic medallist and knows exactly what it takes to win but today she came up against the current Olympic champion, one who had resurrected a powerful version of herself and it was too much for Hershko this time.

The bronze medal contest was a fight Hershko was unwilling to lose. She out-manoeuvred, out strategised and out-gripped her opponent until the job was done. Hershko threw and held Carabali after just 90 seconds of contest time.