Audrey Tcheumeo successfully defends title in Jeju

French Audrey Tcheumeo went one better than her silver medal from a week ago in China as Olympic champion Kayla Harrison (USA) could not compete in the final due to injury. Harrison dislocated her shoulder in her opening match and fought on until she reached the final and then withdrew before the contest as she wants to fight at the Tokyo Grand Slam next week.

In the first semi-final Harrison won a rematch of the London 2012 Olympic final against Gemma Gibbons (GBR). Gibbons, whose one victory over her American rival came at the 2007 British Open, fell behind to a yuko as Harrison drove her familiar foe over for the lowest score. Gibbons was twice penalised before Harrison held the Briton down for 20 seconds and a place in the gold medal contest.

In the second semi-final Qingdao Grand Prix runner-up Tcheumeo guaranteed her second appearance on an IJF medal podium in as many weeks by defeating Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Takayama Rika (JPN). Both judoka failed to produce a score as the contest was decided on shido penalties with three shidos against the Japanese and two against her French opponent.

The first bronze medal was won by Takayama, her second at this level, as she defeated former Moscow Grand Slam silver medallist Purevjargal Lkhamdegd (MGL) for the right to step onto the -78kg medal podium. Takayama, who showed her intent by running into the arena towards the tatami, floored her opponent with an osoto-gari for ippon after 80 seconds.                  

The second bronze medal contest was won by Gibbons who beat Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Guusje Steenhuis (NED) to record another invaluable result as she seeks one more attempt at winning Olympic gold next year. Steenhuis was penalised twice which was once more than her opponent as GIBBONS climbed onto a Grand Prix medal podium for the second week in succession.