It was a true battle in the -78kg category between Anna Monta OLEK (GER) and Yael VAN HEEMST (NED), the pair having already met in a final this year, we knew it would be close.
There was little surprise that the pair had made it to the final given they were the top two seeds of the weight category and demonstrated that clearly throughout the day, but it was Olek that was able to become champion on day three of the 2021 Junior European Championships.
Olek was well prepared for this contest, her team mate, who incidentally was also competing for a medal, assisted her in all the situations she would face against Van Heemst, but before this she was also faced with another tough Dutch opponent, Lieke DERKS. This was also a golden score affair.
We also learned that there isn’t only competition with her direct rivalries in the -78kg category, but also with her father. Though her biggest supporter, she plans on reaching the level he did and surpassing it! The athlete of which we speak is Detlef KNORREK, the two-time Olympian in 1992 and 1996 and senior European bronze medallist in 1991.
This is just the first major championship medal and title for Olek but has plenty of results, both as a cadet and junior athlete. She is projected for success and we will see her in Olbia, Italy for the Junior World Championships to challenge her peers from around the globe.
🥇 OLEK Anna Monta 🇩🇪
🥈 VAN HEEMST Yael 🇳🇱
🥉 DERKS Lieke 🇳🇱
🥉 IGL Raffaela 🇩🇪 © Boris Teofanovic
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen