Yuldoshev, on the other side of the draw, had a harder time, but the result was the same. The final was bound to be explosive between elite judoka with totally different styles.

FInal: Francois Gauthier Drapeau (CAN) vs Murodjon Yuldoshev (UZB)

This was a very close contest with both judoka playing a cautious game. Unconvincing attacks began to garner penalties and by the full-time mark each had two. In golden score Gauthier Drapeau attempted to accelerate but struggled against the heavy sleeve grips of Yuldoshev.

After a minute and a half into extra time, he attacked but it failed and Yuldoshev jumped on his arm immediately. It looked to be all over but somehow the Canadian escaped, narrowly. He used his reprieve perfectly and foot-swept Yuldoshev for a yuko to win the gold, his first in a grand prix.

“I’m feeling so good, exclaimed Francois Gauthier Drapeau, “because my last tournaments were not what I wanted and today. I threw everyone. I won the gold medal which is such a relief. I think I fixed a couple of mistakes, I worked hard on those little weaknesses and now it has finally paid off. You'll see me next in Japan, in Tokyo; after a gold medal like this, I'll be unstoppable. It will be a hard tournament but if you want to be the best in the world, you have to fight the best in the world.”

Bronze medal contest: Arnaud Aregba (FRA) vs Mykhailo Svidrak (UKR)

What began as a dynamic, all-action face-off between two very physical fighters, soon drafted towards an advantage for Mykhailo Svidrak. He pressured well at the edge of the contest area and applied heavy gripping, neutralising any attempts to attack made by Aregba.

Just inside the last minute of the contest, Aregba two penalties down, Svidrak continued on his trajectory and employed a huge o-uchi-gari to launch Aregba on to his back for ippon.

Bronze medal contest: Olivier Gagnon (CAN) vs Bright Maddaloni-Nosa (ITA)

As this contest began, Olivier Gagnon appeared to have the upper hand, attacking more concretely than his opponent. However, following a small break for minor first aid treatment, Maddaloni-Nosa came back on to the tatami with a new resolve and threw Gagnon for an immediate yuko, driving him over his back with a seoi-otoshi.

Penalties were also mounting in the contest, two each as the finish line approached. With 16 seconds left on the clock, the Italian judoka made a catastrophic mistake, one that would have been minor at the beginning of the fight; dropping to his knees with no grip. He earned a third shido and had no choice but to accept that he had given the medal away. Olivier gagnon fought a good day in Zagreb and his reward is his first World Judo Tour medal.