Sabrina Filzmoser says goodbye in style

It's difficult to mention all the athletes who proved to be among the top players of the incumbent generation, who will stop for sure after Tokyo. But we can mention Telma Monteiro (POR), Hedvig Karakas (HUN) and Miryam Roper (PAN), who walked on the Olympic tatami for the last time. The most emblematic one of this moment is Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT). She kissed the tatami after she had lost her first contest against Dutch Sanne Verhagen.

Filzmoser: "It was a very special moment, ending the career here at Budokan. Japan and the judo culture here mean so much to me. Of course, I wanted to win. My opponent Verhagen was very defensive, waiting for me to make a mistake. I was fighting, I had the spirit. I went into golden score, but I made a mistake and lost.

Filzmoser’s final moment was very moving and the delegations and officials present were not mistaken when the 41-year old left the tatami of the Nippon Budokan to the ovation of the public; an ovation worthy of the incredible career of this champion.

"Normally, I wouldn’t kiss the mat. Maybe, if I became an Olympic champion, but normally I wouldn’t do it, but there were so many emotions in me, and I had the feeling to do it. It was very special to me to get the standing ovations from the crowd, the whole judo family cheering me on.”

She participated for the first time in the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing, was world number one for a while, won two European titles and two world bronze medals. Today Sabrina leaves the high level tatami as an IJF Climate Ambassador and she was recently elected by her peers as Chair of the IJF Athletes' Commission. We will continue to see her in the judo world, in a different position. She can be thanked for all she brought to judo and all she is still willing to share with our judo family. That moment when Sabrina left the mat was very special, for a very special person. Hats off to Sabsi.

“Now I am becoming a pilot with helicopters at first. Afterwards, I am looking towards planes and, in the end, I want to become an astronaut. But for sure I will keep the judo spirit alive. I will coach young athletes or be a mentor for them. I have a lot of judo charity projects, as well, that I will continue with."

Filzmoser: "It was a very special moment, ending the career here at Budokan. Japan and the judo culture here mean so much to me. Of course, I wanted to win. My opponent Verhagen was very defensive, waiting for me to make a mistake. I was fighting, I had the spirit. I went into golden score, but I made a mistake and lost.

"Normally, I wouldn’t kiss the mat. Maybe, if I became an Olympic champion, but normally I wouldn’t do it, but there were so many emotions in me, and I had the feeling to do it. It was very special to me to get the standing ovations from the crowd, the whole judo family cheering me on.”