Judo has delivered thrilling results at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with hundreds of judokas competing across 15 events from July 27 to August 3. By Day 3, Japan leads the medal table with 2 golds and 3 bronzes, while Kazakhstan holds 2nd place with a gold and a bronze.
Day 1-3 Highlights:
Hidayat Heydarov Wins Gold (73 kg)
Azerbaijan's Hidayat Heydarov defeated France's Joan-Benjamin Gaba after an intense 10-minute match. Heydarov, mentored by 2008 Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli, expressed gratitude to his supporters for helping him become a champion.
Christa Deguchi: Canada’s First Judo Olympic Champion
Christa Deguchi made history by becoming the first Canadian to win a judo gold medal, triumphing over Korea’s Huh Mimi. Training under Antoine Valois-Fortier, Deguchi brought glory to Canada and showcased her skills honed from an early age.
Abe Hifumi Dominates Men's 66 kg Final
Japan's Abe Hifumi swiftly defeated Lima Willian in under 3 minutes using the sumi-otoshi technique. Coached by Kōsei Inoue, Hifumi’s rapid rise includes past victories at the 2014 Tokyo Grand Slam and other international tournaments.
Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov Shines on Day 1
Yeldos Smetov secured gold for Kazakhstan in the 60 kg category by overcoming France's Luka Mkheidze with a Kosoto Gake move. Despite two minor violations, Smetov’s strategic Waza-ari secured his victory.
Stay tuned to Black Belt Magazine for more updates as the 2024 Olympics judo events continue to unfold.