The fourth day of the Judo tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics is set to be electrifying, showcasing the highly competitive middleweight categories for women (-63kg) and men (-81kg). Expect intense clashes and potentially anticipated finals that will test the athletes' mental resilience and skill.
In the women's -63kg category, all eyes will be on Clarisse Agbegnenou, the defending Olympic champion, and the pride of the French home crowd. Agbegnenou made a triumphant return to the sport after the birth of her daughter, securing another World title. She acknowledges being a different athlete now, possibly even stronger, but she faces a new generation eager to make their mark.
Among her challengers is Joanne Van Lieshout of the Netherlands, the current world number one and reigning World Champion. Van Lieshout has had a stellar run-up to the Olympics, positioning herself as a strong contender for the gold medal. Canada's Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, known for her exceptional transition and ne-waza skills, is also a formidable opponent. She is part of a robust Canadian judo team aiming for Olympic success.
Laura Fazliu from Kosovo is another top contender. With Kosovo's impressive Olympic judo record, Fazliu hopes to add her name to the list of Olympic champions. Poland's Angelika Szymanska, despite settling for a World silver medal in Abu Dhabi, brings exceptional ne-waza skills to the competition, making her a tough competitor. Andreja Leski of Slovenia also aims to follow in the footsteps of her country's two previous Olympic champions, Urska Zolnir Jugovar and Tina Trstenjak.
Other notable contenders in this category include Austria's Lubjana Piovesana, who exceeded expectations after joining Team Austria and jumped to #10 in the World Ranking List. Great Britain's Lucy Renshall, who once led the weight category before injury pushed her out of seeding positions, remains a serious threat. Katarina Kristo of Croatia, World medallists Ozbas Szofi of Hungary and Barbara Timo of Portugal, and the current European Champion Renata Zachova from the Czech Republic are all waiting in the wings to make their mark.
In the men's -81kg category, the main clash could be between Belgium's Matthias Casse and Georgia's Tato Grigalashvili, two of the best athletes in this Olympic cycle. However, this is not a certainty. Japan's Nagase Takanori, the Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, is seeded eighth and will compete in the same pool as Casse, setting up a potentially thrilling early-round match. Azerbaijan's Zelim Tckaev, another top contender, is expected to perform strongly.
Representing Austria, Wachid Borchashvili will carry his family's legacy in Paris, although he is not seeded. Tricky figures outside the seeded positions, such as Vedat Albayrak of Turkey, Antonio Esposito of Italy, and Frank De Wit of the Netherlands, could easily upset the run of things for the top eight, leading to huge disappointments in the Champ de Mars Arena early on.
These categories are stacked with talent, ensuring an exciting day of judo that could see unexpected outcomes and remarkable performances. The pressure will be immense, and the athletes' ability to handle it could determine who stands on the podium.