In a thrilling display of skill and endurance, the Olympic judo finals in Paris saw emotions running high and underdogs rising to the occasion. While seven jubilant judokas celebrated their victories, Ilia Sulamanidze faced a tough loss. In a dramatic turn of events, Sulamanidze lost his lead in the crucial last moments, resulting in two penalty shidos from the Hungarian referee. This paved the way for Zelym Kotsoiev to claim Azerbaijan's second gold of the week, following Hidayat Heydarov's earlier win in the -73kg category. Kotsoiev's victory not only added an Olympic gold to his world title but also marked Azerbaijan's third-ever Olympic judo gold.
Meanwhile, four nations rejoiced as their athletes clinched their first medals of the Games. Italy's Alice Bellandi, the world number one, showcased her prowess by securing Olympic gold, compensating for previous misses at the world titles. Israel saw both Inbar Lanir and Peter Paltchik stepping onto the podium, while Portugal's Patricia Sampaio and China's Zhenzhao Ma also claimed their spots among the medalists.
Bellandi delivered an impeccable performance, dominating her matches with unwavering focus and intense pressure. Her victory not only continues Italy's tradition of claiming a judo gold every eight years but also fills her with overwhelming joy and adrenaline.
On the men's side, Kotsoiev demonstrated why he is both a world champion and now an Olympic gold medalist. His dynamic and powerful judo left many competitors struggling, with only Sulamanidze initially posing a serious challenge. Yet, despite Sulamanidze's strategic efforts, Kotsoiev's relentless attacks ensured his victory and a significant chapter in Azerbaijan's sporting history.
Adding to the excitement, celebrity Snoop Dogg was spotted among the audience, witnessing the judo stars and Kotsoiev's dramatic qualification for the finals.
As the Paris 2024 Games progress, the medal tally has expanded from 22 to 26 countries, thanks to remarkable performances in the women's -78kg category by athletes from Italy, Israel, Portugal, and China.