Again those Birkenstocks as secret weapon for Anna Monta Olek

The final of the Grand Prix in Linz for women U78kg pitted Yuliia Kurchenko and Anna Monta Olek against each other, in a contest that promised to be high intensity. The intensity was high, that's for sure, but none of the finalists could score during normal time. They entered golden score, with Kurchenko having two shido to her name, while the German judoka had one. 1 minute and forty seconds later, Anna Monta Olek could finally apply her combination of cross-grip and o-uchi-gari for waza-ari and a third gold medal in a Grand Prix.

Anna Monta Olek is getting her international experience whilst her compatriots U78kg are fighting for a place in Paris, Olek is warming up for the long term with this gold in the pocket. She gets used to it and she wanted to stipulate her secret that every time she is doing her warming up on her Birkenstocks, she medalled. Knowing the secret we still hope she will succeed in the future, even without the fancy outfit.

Belgian Vicky Verschaere, author of a good early part of the competition, found herself facing Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko (UKR) to reach the podium. Probably disappointed for not reaching the final, Lytvynenko started with a massive uchi-mata of her own that was awarded with a waza-ari. The victory seemed within reach, but Verschaere became more precise and more dangerous until the last 36 seconds, when Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko found a tiny opportunity to apply a seconde uchi-mata. It was a little less spectacular, but the result was the same. This is bronze medal number three for the Ukrainian judoka. For a first participation in a final block Vicky Verschaere did well though and we will have to follow the Belgium judoka in the future.

It remained to be seen who, between Karla Prodan (CRO) and Rinoko Wada (JPN), could complete the podium of this Upper Austria Grand Prix 2024. What a contest that was. Karla Prodan being taller than her opponent, she tried to impose an over-the-shoulder grip during the normal time and the golden score. The problem is that is was creating as many opportunities as problems. Penalised for cross-grip, she also pushed Wada to be penalised. In the end, it is a severely disputed o-uchi-gari that offered Prodan a well deserved bronze medal after she score a waza-ari.

Today’s favourite was number one seed Guusje Steenhuis (NED), who is not used to disappearing early in a World Judo Tour tournament. For the winner recently in Baku and bronze medallist in Paris at the beginning of February, the first appearance was more complicated today, eliminated in her contest by the Japanese judoka Rink Wada on penalties.

With this first surprise, the draw opened up for an unexpected final victory. Wada continued her momentum by beating Vicky Verschaere (BEL), to face one of the two in-form Ukrainian judoka in the category in the semi-final. It was in fact Yuliia Kurchenko (UKR) who emerged from the preliminary rounds after a first victory thanks to two waza-ari (o-uchi-gari and uchi-mata) over Linda Politi (ITA), then a second over Shu Huei Hsu Wang (TPE). Against Wada, Kurchenko confirmed her good form thanks to a new ippon.

It remained to be seen whether we were going to witness an all-Ukrainian final, since Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko progressed in the second part of the draw, hoping to join her compatriot to compete for gold, but Anna Monta Olek (GER) stood in her way and the wall was too high to climb for Lytvynenko, who bowed out on a waza-ari.

In a category where Germany already has two world-class athletes, emulation works wonderfully. When Anna-Maria Wagner (WRL 3) or Alina Boehm (WRL 7) are not there, there is Anna Monta Olek (WRL 14) to take over. This does not simplify the choice for coaches when it comes to selection but it is the kind of problem that many countries would like to have. We see this type of situation more and more frequently. Ultimately, this healthy competition causes the level to skyrocket. Germany is a good example at -78kg with three competitors present in the top 15.

To the EJU team she said: “My mum and dad were here today and I’m sure you saw this as well, he is dressed very brightly, so even during my fight I could see him out of the corner of my eye and he was even on the camera quite often as well which I thought was funny. He has a very loud voice too, so when my coach was having to be quiet during the fight I could hear him in the crowd. It’s great to have them here and support me.”

“This is my best performance to date, I defeated some really strong people so I’m happy with that. My first fight was against the Japanese, and I think we all know how difficult they can be, their team is very strong, so once I had that out of the way I felt good. In the final, the longer the fight went, the better I felt. I knew she wouldn’t pick up any more shidos and we were deep in golden score so I just went for that o uchi and it came through.”

Olek’s coach, Miguel Ogando: “It’s no big surprise. This is where she belongs. We work very hard at home to be prepared for whenever we get the chance. We work a lot at home to minimize mistakes due to her young age. She missed out in the final in Baku due to a mistake but we were able to fix it. (Which is why she won the gold today) – she lost to Kurchenko in the semi final in Baku.”