Maria Perez prolongs Grand Prix Upper Austria title

Judofans witnessed a very tense final of the women’s U70kg category in Linz. It seemed that penalties could decide the winner between Maria Perez (PUR) and Irene Pedrotti of Italy but this was without counting on the extraordinary velocity of Perez, who in golden score, with two shido apiece, produced one of the movements of the day and with a perfectly timed nidan-ko-soto-gari scored a beautiful ippon. Perez wins her second gold medal in Linz and it seems that years have no impact on her besides her getting stronger and stronger.

With the first finalist known, we still had to wait to see who would face Perez. Irene Pedrotti (ITA) was not among the favourites, not even mentioned in our preview, simply because she was not seeded and is ranked 48th in the world but maybe remembering that she won a bronze medal 2 years ago at the Zagreb Grand Prix would have told us that she had the right stuff to reach the final block again. Thus, she was the one who eventually joined Perez to determine the winner of the day. Before the final it was therefore already a good performance for the transalpine judoka.

The first bronze medal contest saw Eliza Wroblewska (POL) vs Aleksandra Samardzic (BIH) facing off for a place on the podium. With the third penalty falling on Wroblewska's shoulders, the bronze medal went to Aleksandra Samardzic for the fourth podium of her career on the World Judo Tour.

The bronze medal for Polleres was far from being guaranteed as she was facing Moka Kuwagata (JPN) and the contest was tense and stressful for the public. Nothing could be written on the scoreboard during normal time but penalties. The two athletes entered golden score with two shido apiece and for minutes the same scenario unfolded with both of them attacking but for no score. The Austrian judo fans were supporting with all their heart until the last shido fell on the Japanese judoka. After a respectful bow, Michaela Polleres could wave at the public in recognition of their support; she needed it today. It was a bronze medal for the host country.

This category U70kg offered probably one of the best chances for the host nation to reach the top of the podium, with Michaela Polleres (AUT). Herself and the Austrian fans believed it until the last moment, when in the semi-final, she received her third penalty, synonymous with disqualification, against Maria Perez (PUR). Silver medallist in Tokyo 2020 and one of the most successful Austrian judoka of all time, Polleres missed her chance to win at home and had to settle for a potential bronze medal only.

For Maria Perez, it is not really a surprise to see her at that level. Having already won the first edition of the grand prix last year in Linz, she knows the place and is clearly feeling well in Austria and prolonged last year’s title comfortably.