The 2024 Paris Olympics judo competition on July 27 saw a series of dramatic victories and historic moments. Spanish judoka Fran Garrigós clinched the bronze medal in the men’s -60 kg category, ending a 24-year Olympic medal drought for Spanish judo. Garrigós, a 30-year-old from Móstoles, defeated Georgian world champion Giorgi Sardalashvili in a tense bronze medal match at the Champ de Mars stadium, with the iconic Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.In the women’s -48 kg category, 25-year-old French judoka Shirine Boukli secured the bronze medal, marking France’s first medal of the Games. Boukli’s path to the podium was not straightforward; she lost to Japanese judoka Natsumi Tsunoda in the quarterfinals but fought back through the repechage to claim bronze.The men’s -60 kg category saw Kazakh judoka Yeldos Smetov clinch the gold medal, defeating French judoka Luka Mkheidze in the final. This victory marked Kazakhstan’s first gold medal in judo at the Olympics. Mkheidze, who had previously won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, expressed satisfaction with his silver medal performance.These results highlight the global nature of judo competition, with medalists hailing from Spain, France, Kazakhstan, and other nations. The Paris Games have already showcased intense competition and personal triumphs, with more exciting matches expected in the coming days.
Key points
- Spanish judoka Fran Garrigós won bronze in the men’s -60 kg category, ending a 24-year Olympic medal drought for Spanish judo.
- French judoka Shirine Boukli secured bronze in the women’s -48 kg category, marking France’s first medal of the Games.
- Kazakh judoka Yeldos Smetov won gold in the men’s -60 kg category, defeating French judoka Luka Mkheidze who took silver.
Contradictions👾There is a minor discrepancy in reporting Fran Garrigós’ age.
While most sources do not mention his age, one source states he is 30 years old, which contradicts the typical age range for Olympic judokas.
