Following a loss in the -57kg category Olympic semi final, in front of the home crowd in Paris, the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist was distraught. Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE of France has been waiting three years to right the wrong in Tokyo, losing the final due to a head diving infringement. Throughout her preliminaries today, she was strong and all roads were pointing to the final, however she was defeated by Christa DEGUCHI (CAN) in her semi, ending the contest by accumulating three shidos.
The scale of upset was worrying for spectators, wondering in the Frenchwoman would be able to overcome the loss and recover in such a short time before walking out for the bronze medal contest. History stated that she was in a good position, having already defeated Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO) five times previously, but as we have already seen in these Olympic Games, anything is possible.
In Cysique’s previous contests, she was seen to be waiting for counter opportunities, and played the same game in her bronze medal bout with Liparteliani, scoring waza ari early on, then an almighty ippon.
Liparteliani came in for the uchi mata entry, looking to switch directions to take Cysique backwards, but the Georgian athlete didn’t get the response she was hoping for, instead Cysique saw it coming and stepped off, guiding her opponent on to her back with te waza.
Even whilst waiting in the Olympic tunnel, the crowd were shaking the Champ de Mars Arena with their support, be it vocal, drums or horns, and they continued to rally throughout the contest. It wouldn’t have been surprising if those down the Champ de Mars to the Eiffel Tower could hear the applause! Medal number four for France, with one more to come from the -73kg men…
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen