International Olympic Committee : News

Judo: Grand Slam - Day 3 results

12/2/2012 10:48:39 AM

Results from the Grand Slam judo tournament in Tokyo on Sunday:

Men

90kg

Final

Lee Kyu-Won (KOR) bt Masashi Nishiyama (JPN) ippon

Semi-finals

Masashi Nishiyama (JPN) bt Shohei Shimowada (JPN) waza ari

Lee Kyu-Won (KOR) bt Islam Bozbayev (KAZ) ippon

Quarter-finals

Masashi Nishiyama (JPN) bt Romain Buffet (FRA) waza ari

Shohei Shimowada (JPN) bt Joakim Dvarby (SWE) yuko

Islam Bozbayev (KAZ) bt Yuya Yoshida (JPN) waza ari

Lee Kyu-Won (KOR) bt Hirotaka Kato (JPN) yuko

100kg

Final

Daisuke Kobayashi (JPN) bt Ilias Iliadis (GRE) ippon

Semi-finals

Ilias Iliadis (GRE) bt Maxim Rakov (KAZ) decision

Daisuke Kobayashi (JPN) bt Temuulen Battulga (MGL) ippon

Quarter-finals

Maxim Rakov (KAZ) bt Yusuke Kumashiro (JPN) ippon

Ilias Iliadis (GRE) bt Thierry Fabre (FRA) ippon

Temuulen Battulga (MGL) bt Dino Pfeiffer (GER) yuko

Daisuke Kobayashi (JPN) bt Kyle Reyes (CAN) ippon

Over 100kg

Final

Kim Sung-Min (KOR) bt Rafael Silva (BRA) ippon

Semi-finals

Rafael Silva (BRA) bt Ryu Shichinohe (JPN) yuko

Kim Sung-Min (KOR) bt Jean-Sebastien Bonvoisin (FRA) ippon

Quarter-finals

Rafael Silva (BRA) bt Takeshi Ojitani (JPN) ippon

Ryu Shichinohe (JPN) bt Cho Gu-Ham (KOR) ippon

Jean-Sebastien Bonvoisin (FRA) bt Andreas Toelzer (GER) decision

Kim Sung-Min (KOR) bt Masaru Momose (JPN) yuko

Women

78kg

Final

Ruika Sato (JPN) bt Akari Ogata (JPN) yuko

Semi-finals

Akari Ogata (JPN) bt Yoon Hyun-Ji (KOR) ippon

Ruika Sato (JPN) bt Amy Cotton (CAN) waza ari

Quarter-finals

Akari Ogata (JPN) bt Kaliema Antomarchi (CUB) ippon

Yoon Hyun-Ji (KOR) bt Lucie Louette (FRA) ippon

Amy Cotton (CAN) bt Wang Szu-chu (TPE) ippon

Ruika Sato (JPN) bt Jeong Gyeong-Mi (KOR) ippon

Over 78kg

Final

Megumi Tachimoto (JPN) bt Idalys Ortiz (CUB) ippon

Semi-finals

Idalys Ortiz (CUB) bt Sara Asahina (JPN) ippon

Megumi Tachimoto (JPN) bt Maria Suelen Altheman (BRA) yuko

Quarter-finals

Idalys Ortiz (CUB) bt Carolin Weiss (GER) yuko

Sara Asahina (JPN) bt Gulzhan Issanova (KAZ) ippon

Megumi Tachimoto (JPN) bt Jasmin Kuelbs (GER) ippon

Maria Suelen Altheman (BRA) bt Kanae Yamabe (JPN) decision

afp

Decosse takes Judo gold for France - London 2012 - Judo

8/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

The 30-year-old Middleweight scored an early Wazari, which she followed up with a hold down for 19 seconds, just one second short of victory.

However, it did not prove costly as Decosse closed out the win for France's first judo gold of London 2012.

'I've waited so long, I really wanted it, now I can't tell you how happy I am. I am at peace with myself completely,' she said.

’I've waited so long, I really wanted it, now I can't tell you how happy I am. I am at peace with myself completely.’

European champion Edith Bosch of Holland, the world number two, had to be content with bronze after being sent into the repechage following a shock quarter-final defeat to Olympic newcomer Thiele.

Bosh recorded a late Yuko to send her clash against Hwang Ye-sul, the world number six, into golden score.

She then secured another Olympic medal on judges' flags.

The other bronze went to Alvear Yuri of Colombia after she beat China's Chen Fei, who had lost a semi-final against Thiele only on the officials ruling at the end of golden score.

Gold for 11th seed Song - London 2012 - Judo

8/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

The 11th seed claimed the Olympic Games crown with a golden score win over Cuban Asley Gonzalez.

Both fighters picked up warnings for passivity, before the Republic of Korea coach was sent out for shouting instructions during play as the tussle headed into the final 30 seconds.

Song then won the gold with a reverse leg sweep to claim a Wazari on golden score – and his coach ran back into the arena at the ExCeL in wild celebration.

World champion and top seed Ilias Iliadis – who won the -81kg title at the Athens 2004 Olympics – was beaten in the quarter-finals, but fought back to take bronze by edging past Tiago Camilo of Brazil, who had twice made the podium at previous Games.

Masashi Nishiyama of Japan, the second seed, claimed the other bronze by beating defeated semi-finalist Kirill Denisov of Russia on the judges' flags.

Gold success for Matsumoto - London 2012 - Judo

7/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Caprioriu was penalised for trying to hold Matsumoto's leg to flip over the Japanese.

Defeated semi-finalist Marti Malloy won the bronze medal after defeating defending Olympic champion Giulia Quintavalle from Italy.

USA's Malloy sealed the fate of the match within a short span of time by pinning Quintavalle on her back to score an Ippon.

The second bronze medal was bagged by Automne Pavia from France after she defeated Hedvig Karakas by a swift leg sweep which resulted in the Hungarian's fall.

Pavia climbed down to hug her coach before greeting French President Francois Hollande.

Matsumoto dedicated Japan's first Judo gold of the Games to her team-mates Tomoko Fukumi and Misato Nakamura.

She said: 'I am so very happy to be able to get gold on behalf of my colleagues.

'There was pressure, but I did what I wanted to do along the way which helped me to win the medal.

'I had a strong feeling to win, told myself to calm down, focus and not to give up.

'Fukumi had told me to go for it and Nakamura that I would get the first gold medal for Japan.'

Isaev celebrates golden win - London 2012 - Judo

7/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Mongolian Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal won the bronze after making a comeback through the repechage, defeating Dex Elmont from the Netherlands.

Elmont was lacking in aggression, giving an opening to Sainjargal to take charge of the bout.

The second bronze went to Frenchman Ugo Legrand, who defeated current world champion Wang Ki-Chun in an unexpected victory.

Galstyan celebrates title success - London 2012 - Judo

7/28/2012 11:41:00 AM

The world number five defeated double world champion Rishod Sobirov of Uzbekistan on golden score in their semi-final, before overcoming Japanese fighter Hiroaki Hiraoka in the final with a superb ippon throw after just 40 seconds.

Sobirov added another Olympic bronze to the medal he won in Beijing when he beat Sofiane Milous of France.

Brazilian Felipe Kitadai secured the other third place with victory over Italian Elio Verde.

Judo gold for Menezes - London 2012 - Judo

7/28/2012 12:00:00 AM

Dumitru, set to retire after the Games, had earlier seen off the challenge of two-time world silver medallist Tomoko Fukumi in the semi-final.

However, Menezes gradually got on top of what was a tight encounter, landing a crucial scoring throw with under a minute left and followed with another in the closing stages to secure the title.

Top seed Fukumi left empty-handed after she was beaten on golden score in the bronze-medal fight-off by Eva Csernoviczki of Hungary.

Charline van Snick of Belgium claimed the other third place after overcoming Argentina fighter Paula Pareto, also in sudden death, on golden score.

Medals up for grabs in seven sports this week-end at London 2012

7/27/2012 10:54:00 AM

Athletes will be chasing gold in archery, cycling, fencing, judo, shooting, swimming and weightlifting on Saturday, with a total of 12 Olympic titles up for grabs.

The men’s team archery competition will take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground, with Korea’s Im Dong Hyun aiming to become the first archer to win three gold medals in the event, following his successes at the 2004 and 2008 Games.

Kim Bubmin and Oh Jin Hyek will join him in the Korean team, but they will face stiff competition from the USA, whose team features individual men's No.1 Brady Ellison, Jake Kaminski and Jacob Wukie.

In cycling, the men’s road race will see competitors tackle a 250km out-and-back course that is the longest in Olympic history and features nine laps of a 15.5km section, the highlight being the short but steep Box Hill climb. Up to one million spectators are expected to line the route, which will start and finish on The Mall in central London.

Reigning world champion Mark Cavendish from Great Britain and Germany’s Andre Greipel will be among the top sprinters while attackers such as the Belgian Philippe Gilbert and Peter Sagan of Slovakia will be hunting for a breakaway.

In the ExCeL centre, which is hosting the fencing competition, Italy’s Valentina Vezzali will be chasing a record fourth consecutive individual Olympic gold medal in the women’s foil. With three individual and two team Olympic gold medals, as well as six individual and seven team world titles, Vezzali is already the most successful single-weapon fencer in history and will also be trying to become the first woman to win four consecutive individual gold medals in any sport at the Olympic Games.

The judo events also get underway on Saturday at ExCeL, with medals up for grabs in the men’s -60kg and women’s -48kg events. Uzbekistan’s world no.1 Rishod Sobirov will be aiming to add an Olympic gold medal to his men's -60kg world title and the bronze medal he won in Beijing in 2008, while Romania’s Alina Dumitru will be hoping to defend her women’s -48kg title, after winning gold four years ago.

The Excel centre will also play host to the weightlifting events during London 2012, with the women’s 48kg gold medal due to be contested on Saturday. China’s four-time world champion Wang Mingjuan will be among the favourites to strike gold.

Saturday will also see the Olympic medals awarded in both the women’s 10m air rifle and men’s 10m air pistol events, which will take place at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Defending champion Katerina Emmons from the Czech Republic could become the first athlete to win consecutive gold medals in women's 10m air rifle, but she will have to beat Olympic debutant Yi Siling of China, who is the world-ranking leader and 2010 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) world champion.

In the pool, fans will be treated to four finals on the opening night, with the USA’s Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps set to go head-to-head in the men’s 400m individual medley, and medals also up for grabs in the men’s 400m freestyle, the women’s 400m individual medley and the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

On the road to London 2012: Tanja Bozovic

6/18/2012 11:12:00 AM

Tanja Bozovic, the talented young judoka from Niksic, Montenegro hopes to qualify for the Games in London with the aid of a Solidarity scholarship.

How did you get started in judo?
My older brother had started to train, and I was jealous of him. I didn’t want him to be stronger than me so I begged my parents to let me try! Eventually they gave in, and so it all began. I’m now 17 years old and competing in junior competitions in the 57kg category.

What are the main attributes needed to be a successful judoka?
There are various strengths you need and, of course, people are all different, but my guess is that every judoka needs to be mentally tough. That is one of the most important things in this sport.

How is the Olympic Solidarity scholarship assisting your training and Olympic dreams?
Thanks to the Olympic Solidarity scholarship I can take part in more events across Europe and even in other parts of the world. I can now afford to travel to training camps, which I was not able to do previously – this means my preparation is much better for competitions and I can achieve better results.

What is your training programme like?
I train with both the girls and boys at my judo club – most are older competitors though some are a similar age to me. I train twice daily. Morning training consists of running, strength exercises and judo practice on the mats. In the afternoon, I concentrate on exercise technique, agility and the mental side of things – how to concentrate during a bout. Three times a week I go to aerobics classes and once a week I do heavy weights in the gym.

Have you set yourself any targets for the Games in London?
Assuming I achieve the required number of points to qualify for the Olympic Games, then you can be sure that I want to win a medal in such an important event. Although I am only young, I think that I can represent my country with honour.

Have you been to London before?
No, I have not had a chance to visit the city but I hope to go there in the near future and if not, then definitely next year for the Olympic Games.

What goals, if any, have you set yourself for your career?
I would like to be somebody that my country can be proud of, and to enjoy as long a career in this sport as possible. I wish that in 10 years’ time my name will be synonymous with the sport of judo!

Who were your Olympic heroes or role models when you were growing up?
At first I did not have any role models but since I started as a judoka with dreams of competing in the Olympic Games, Teddy Rinner of France – who has won the World Championships for the last three years – has become one of my biggest role models.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

More sports grace London Olympic venues

12/8/2011 3:30:00 PM

London’s Olympic venues have played host to six more sporting events, as preparations continue for next year’s Olympic Games. The handball, table tennis, fencing, boxing, judo and taekwondo events all formed part of the London Prepares series, which is bringing world-class sport to the British capital’s Olympic venues in the build-up to London 2012.

The events form an integral part of the London 2012 Organising Committee’s (LOCOG’s) preparations for the Games, enabling it to test vital Games-time operations, including competition equipment, scoreboards, results services, workforce and officials.

The London Handball Cup saw six top women’s teams battle it out over five days of competition in the Olympic Park’s newly-built Handball Arena. Austria took the gold medal after defeating Poland 23-22 in a closely fought final, while Angola took the bronze medal with a 29-24 win over China.

Over 10,000 tickets for the event were given out to local schools, colleges and residents, creating a superb atmosphere in the arena, which will be used as a multi-use venue after the Games.

“It is great to see competitive action in the Handball Arena,” said David Luckes, Head of Sport Competition at LOCOG. “The test event has run very smoothly and the atmosphere generated by the local crowd has been electric. Not only have we been able to test our operations, this has also been a great chance to showcase handball to a wider audience.”

Herbert Müller, coach of the winning Austrian team, was also impressed with the event. “It was a great honour to play at this tournament and I really like the Olympic Handball Arena, especially the multi-coloured seats,” he said. “The organisation was perfect and the whole Austrian team really enjoyed it.”

Elsewhere, London’s ExCeL exhibition centre opened its doors to a variety of sports as it played host to fencing, table tennis, boxing, judo and taekwondo events. The London Boxing International Invitational saw both male and female competitors taking part in four days of competition from 24-27 November, while the London International Invitational Men's Foil competition took place from 26-27 November.

“It was great competing in the venue that the Olympic Games will be held at next year,” said American fencer Gerek Meinhardt, who took gold in the individual foil event. “It was really amazing motivation seeing the facilities and getting familiar with some of the procedures that will take place if I qualify for the Games.”

The 2011 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pro Tour Grand Finals were also held at ExCeL from 24-27 November, with the world's best players competing for the Pro Tour title.
“The ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals is always the yearly highlight of the professional tour,” said Judit Farago, the chief executive and competitions executive director at the ITTF. “But this time both the motivation and the interest from the players was higher than usual with the attraction of competing in what will be an Olympic venue next year.”

From 3-4 December, ExCeL also hosted the London Prepares International Invitational Judo event, featuring male and female athletes from around the world, and the Taekwondo International Invitational, which featured 60 athletes from 18 countries.

“This significant competition has given us the unique opportunity to validate our current planning, crystallise operations and rehearse Game-time deliverables and everything here has gone very well,” said Luckes. “Moreover, we have been able to test parts of the venue and our technology solution, while it has been equally important for our invaluable sport-specific volunteers and workforce to gain the exposure and tangible experience of being involved at a major international event.”

The ExCeL venue will also host wrestling and weightlifting events from 10-11 December.