Yuri Alvear catches Grand Slam gold in Brasilia

Three-time world champion Yuri Alvear (COL) beat one of the brightest prospects in the sport to rule in Brasilia. The 33-year-old had too much experience for 21-year-old Montreal Grand Prix winner Giovanna Scoccimarro (GER). Germany’s leading U70kg hope was only 11 when Alvear won her first world title in 2009 and still has to make up ground to trouble the elite judoka in the category but has time on her side.

A waza-ari with 30 seconds left from a o-soto-makikomi sent the Colombian to the top of the medal podium for her second Grand Slam win to add to her three world titles and two Olympic medals.

In the first semi-final Scoccimarro saw off former world number one Kelita Zupancic (CAN) with an uchi-mata to power into the final with a strong showing.

In the second semi-final Alvear emphatically floored 10-time Grand Prix medallist Gemma Howell (GBR) with a trademark o-soto-gari for ippon after just 60 seconds.

The first bronze medal was awarded to world number 13 Howell after world number 12 Assmaa Niang (MAR) was penalised for the third time for going out of the area. Wolverhampton Judo Club’s Howell earned her second Grand Slam medal and will now expect to break into the top 10 on the IJF World Ranking List before the year is out.

The second bronze medal was won by Maria Portela (BRA) who won a battle of former top-ranked judoka against Zupancic. A morote-seoi-nage was the difference as Portela prevailed by a waza-ari score to set the crowd into party mode before stopping to pose for pictures and sign autographs.