Sixth World Tour medal first gold for Karen Stevenson

The first major event on the calendar after the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Zagreb Grand Prix, has just ended. It was a very positive event, one which saw the advent of a new generation of athletes, some of whom will undoubtedly be in Paris in 2024, while others are already in the preparation phase for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Silver medallist in Tbilisi this year, Karen Stevenson (NED), had a new chance to reach gold as she faced Patricija Brolih (SLO) in the final, who so far had nothing better than a fifth place in a grand prix to her name.

We have seen this combination several times during the day: sumi-gaeshi and ground work. After she stepped on to the tatami, totally relaxed and smiling, this was the tactic Stevenson applied perfectly in the final, defeating Patricija Brolih with ease to win gold.

Number 41 in the world, Sophie Berger (BEL) and Teresa Zenker (GER), ranked 50, were the contenders for the first bronze medal. It took more than three minutes for Zenker to win with a waza-ari throw followed immediately by an immobilisation for ippon, but the German clearly dominated her opponent throughout the match. This is the first medal in a grand prix for the German competitor.

The 2019 junior world silver medallist Renee Van Harselaar (NED) faced the winner of the 2021 Sarajevo European Open Emma Reid (GBR), for the second bronze medal. After two minutes Reid took the lead with a sumi-gaeshi for waza-ari and then went to work on the floor, freeing her leg and pinning Van Harselaar for ippon to win her first medal at a grand prix.