Takanori Nagase becomes legendary with fourth Olympic medal and back to back title

Takanori Nagase of Japan successfully defended his Olympic title from 2021, showcasing his exceptional skill and strategic prowess. He now boasts a collection of Olympic medals: gold, silver for teams in 2021, and bronze in 2016. The reigning world champion, Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia, stepped onto the tatami for the final, but perhaps worn down by his marathon semi-final, never truly seemed in the game. Nagase adeptly controlled the match, establishing his kumi-kata and taking the initiative, which he did not fail to exploit.

From the outset, Nagase took the lead with a waza-ari, continuing to dominate and leaving Grigalashvili a step behind. It didn’t take much more for Nagase to score a second time, securing his second Olympic title with apparent ease—a reflection of his immense talent. Nagase's journey over the past three years, filled with frustration and preparation, culminated in this triumphant moment.

Nagase expressed his relief and joy: "For three years I could not win and I have been dealing with frustration for a long time. Even so, I never gave up. I have been aiming only for the pinnacle in Paris 2024. I re-examined my judo, prepared well from the preparation stage, and was able to step onto the tatami with no regrets. That gave me confidence. I spent a lot of time feeling anxious and worried but I knew I was the only one who could challenge for consecutive Olympic golds."

In the bronze medal contests, Matthias Casse of Belgium faced South Korean world medallist Joonhwan Lee. It was Lee who prevailed, using a deft de-ashi-barai sweep to secure the bronze medal, adding to his list of accomplishments. Somon Makhmadbekov of Tajikistan showcased his groundwork prowess, turning Antonio Esposito and pinning him down for ippon, marking the first Olympic medal for Makhmadbekov.

The first semi-final was a true display of judo at its highest level. Both Grigalashvili and Lee were committed to reaching the final, giving their all in a fiercely contested match. After four minutes, the scoreboard was still empty, reflecting the intense competition. Eventually, Grigalashvili scored a liberating waza-ari with a counterattack, securing his place in the final.

The second semi-final featured reigning Olympic champion Nagase against Antonio Esposito. The Japanese judoka, totally focused, scored a first waza-ari with a beautiful sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi and concluded with a moment of ne-waza and an immobilisation for ippon, reaching his second Olympic final in a row.

In the repechage, Matthias Casse faced François Gauthier-Drapeau of Canada. After a tightly contested match that extended into golden score, Casse ultimately pinned down his opponent for ippon. In the second repechage contest, Somon Makhmadbekov displayed impressive judo, securing a waza-ari and pinning Sharofiddin Boltaboev in less than a minute.

Overall, the -81kg category delivered thrilling matches and unforgettable moments, culminating in Nagase's remarkable defense of his Olympic title.