Seven time winner Clarisse Agbegnenou sets records

From Saturday, Clarisse Agbegnenou is now a seven time winner of the Grand Slam in Paris. That puts her right on top with Teddy Riner and Lucie Decosse two other French legends in Paris. 50 years of history are there to bear witness the great winners in Paris. The knowledgeable public arrives from the start and supports everything that even remotely resembles beautiful judo. When the actors are French, it is obvious that popular support is greater. When it's a French judo star who takes to the tatami of the Accor Hotel Arena, the noise level goes up a notch. This is of course the case with Clarisse Agbegnenou.

In the final, half of the contest passed without major attacks but with continuous action, leading to no penalty given on either side. The first shido came in the second half, as Agbegnenou was penalised for passivity, even if she was dominating the grip. With one shido apiece given in the last minute, things started to be a little tricky for the French judoka, especially when she was thrown for waza-ari a little later. But the score was cancelled and at the beginning of the golden score period, Kristo was warned a second time for gripping under the belt: two shido apiece. After almost two minutes of extra time, the public was going crazy. After each action, massive hourras would come from the stands until eventually, Clarisse Agbegnenou blocked her opponent's attack and threw for a waza-ari with an o-soto-gari. It was gold medal number seven for the French hero. 

Today, the six-time world champion put on a magnificent show for all her fans, to say the least. This very high level spectacle was also possible because Clarisse had opponents who were not there to have fun but to win. After a first round won against Agatha Schmidt (GER), the second round looked close against former world champion Megumi Horikawa (JPN) and it was.

The eight minutes of golden score gradually increased the pressure, reaching a level rarely reached; the tension was at its peak. After 8 minutes of golden score, equivalent to 3 contests (4+8), Agbegnenou stepped off the tatami totally exhausted, but as the winner and with the full support of the 15,000 spectators.

In the quarter-final, the French champion overcame the obstacle called Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB) before facing the young Joanne Van Lieshout (NED). Once again golden score loomed and Agbegnenou had to work hard not to sink. Caught in an armlock, she miraculously freed herself to finally score a masterful ippon on an incredible action-reaction situation. A new final opened for her.

At the top of the draw, more discreetly, Katarina Kristo (CRO) was charting her course. With the premature elimination of Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) and Lucy Renshall (GBR), the table opened up and left room for an outsider, which Kristo took full advantage of.

Lucy Renshall (GBR) and Joanne Van Lieshout (NED) headlined the match for the first bronze medal. Maybe Joanne Van Lieshout had not recovered enough after her semi-final against Agbegnenou, eventually losing to Lucy Renshall by penalties in golden score, the only unnecessary loss of the day as the rest of the tournament she did everything well.

Two Asian countries, Mongolia with Gankhaich Bold, and Japan with Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN), had the chance to complete the podium in a category hitherto dominated by European athletes. The victory went to Mongolia, Gankhaich Bold winning the bronze medal.