In a dramatic day of judo at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Brazilian judoka Beatriz Souza clinched the gold medal in the women’s +78kg category, while French legend Teddy Riner made history by securing his fourth Olympic gold in the men’s +100kg division.Souza, 26, defeated Israeli Raz Hershko in the final with a waza-ari, capping off an impressive run that included victories over world number one Romane Dicko of France in the semifinals and South Korea’s Kim Ha-Yun in the quarterfinals. ‘It’s inexplicable, it’s one of the best things in the world,’ Souza said about becoming an Olympic champion. This victory marks Brazil’s first gold medal in judo at these Games, adding to their previous silver and bronze medals.In the men’s +100kg category, Teddy Riner, 35, etched his name in the annals of judo history by winning his fourth Olympic gold medal. Riner defeated South Korea’s Kim Min Chon in the final with a score of 10:0, surpassing the previous record of three gold medals held by Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura. This victory cements Riner’s status as the most decorated judoka in Olympic history, with a total of four gold and two bronze medals.The day wasn’t without its disappointments, particularly for French judoka Romane Dicko. Despite being the world number one in the +78kg category, Dicko lost to Souza in the semifinals. However, she managed to regroup and secure a bronze medal by defeating Serbia’s Milica Zabic.These results highlight the intense competition and high level of skill displayed in judo at the Paris Olympics, with both established champions and rising stars making their mark on the world stage.
Key points
- Brazilian judoka Beatriz Souza won gold in the women’s +78kg category at the Paris Olympics.
- French judoka Teddy Riner secured his fourth Olympic gold medal, becoming the most decorated judoka in Olympic history.
- Romane Dicko of France, despite losing in the semifinals, managed to win a bronze medal.
Contradictions👾Some sources report Beatriz Souza as ‘Bia Souza’, while others use her full name.
This is likely just a nickname variation and not a true contradiction.
