-78kg: Olek Takes the Top Spot

Lee (KOR) had a bye in the first round and then beat Wang (TPE) and Tatarchenko (AIN) to move into the quarter-final. There, her starting position was not enough and Karla Prodan (CRO) took the win to move into the semi-final. Poland had already passed world medallists Kuka (KOS) and Powell (GBR).

In the semi-final, the Croatian met number 4 seed, Metka Lobnik (SLO), and lost to her; correct by seeding despite all the efforts made. It would be a bronze medal contest for Prodan against Buttigieg who was knocked down into the repechage by number 3 seed Olek (GER). Olek went all the way to the final.

So with the third and fourth seeds safely into the last contest of the category, it remains to discover what happened to the second seed, also Korean, like the category leader. Hyunji Yoon, like her teammate, was knocked out by a Croatian, Petrunjela Pavic, who, ironically went on to face Lee for the bronze.

Pavic sealed the fate of the top seeds, dominating, managing against the familiar relentlessness of the Korean’s attacks and adding to the Croatian tally after Matic’s medal on day 2.

Karla Prodan was determined to reach the podium and in the second bronze medal contest she pounced with her strong left arm over the top, looking to control Buttigieg at the hips but the French athlete was ready and had the pick-up lying in wait. This situation repeated itself again and again but it was all at a high pace which eventually gave Chloe Buttigieg an opportunity in transition, right on the edge of the area. Seconds away from a ‘mate’ call, it was a reverse juji-gatame expertly executed to bring the medal back to the French locker room.

In the final there was, as with the other medal contests, a high pace and a great number of attacks. Notting much time passed before Lobnik attempted a huge pick up but she misjudged the balance and Olek adjusted, stepped around and fell almost straight into a hold down. She didn’t waste any further energy, holding position until the full 20 seconds passed. Olek, number 3 on the German team behind Wagner and Boehm, was number one in Odivelas.