Gabriella Willems has made history for Belgian judo by winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, breaking a 32-year drought in the -70kg category since Heidi Rakels' bronze in 1992. Willems' victory over Sanne Van Dijke from the Netherlands in a nail-biting bronze medal match at the Champs-de-Mars Arena has cemented her legacy as one of Belgium's judo greats.
Willems' path to this moment was anything but easy. Her career has been riddled with serious injuries, starting with a ruptured cruciate ligament in April 2021 that forced her to miss the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2022, she suffered another cruciate ligament tear and underwent Latarjet surgery to fix recurring shoulder dislocations. Despite these formidable obstacles, Willems' unyielding determination and grit led her to qualify for Paris 2024, a feat she calls nothing short of a "miracle."
After witnessing her partner Christian Parlati lose his first contest, Willems had to regroup and focus on her own journey. Reflecting on her hard-fought bronze medal, Willems shared her joy and exhaustion: "The day was so tiring. I had to gather myself for every single fight. It was an incredible experience, but emotionally it took a lot out of me. In this competition, anything can happen. I'm thrilled to bring this medal home for Belgian judo—it truly is a dream come true."
The electric atmosphere at the Champs-de-Mars Arena, fueled by an enthusiastic French crowd, added to the unforgettable experience. Willems praised the passion for judo in France: "French people love judo, and it's just amazing. It's one of those countries where judo is deeply cherished, and you can feel that energy on the mat. Competing in these Games in Paris, so close to Belgium, was fantastic."
Willems also spoke about the camaraderie and respect that define judo: "That's the beauty of judo. The sport is built on values like respect for our rivals. Before and after the match, we are all friends."
Looking ahead, Willems is taking a cautious approach to her future in judo. She emphasized the need to rest and fully recover from her injuries before deciding on competing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games: "I need some time to rest and get back to 100% physically, to ensure my injuries are fully healed. From there, I'll see what the future holds."
Born on July 1, 1997, in Liège, Belgium, Gabriella Willems, fondly known as "Gaby," currently resides in Barchon. She represents Judo Club Andrimont and is coached by Cedric Taymans nationally and Raffaele Parlati at the club level. Multilingual in English, French, and Italian, Willems has leveraged her language skills to excel on the international stage.
Willems' road to the bronze medal in Paris was paved with a series of impressive victories. She defeated Maria Perez of Puerto Rico, Elisavet Teltsidou of Greece, and Miriam Butkereit of Germany in the elimination rounds. In the repechage contest, she triumphed over France's Marie Eve Gahie before clinching the bronze against Van Dijke, whom she had lost to five times before. Her resilience and skill have solidified her place among judo's elite, bringing immense pride to both Belgian and Italian judo fans.