After a stunning day of judo from both Zelim KOTSOIEV (AZE) and Ilia SULAMANIDZE (GEO) there were huge expectations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games final in the -100kg category. The pair had faced one another four times in the past, and had a 2:2 record, so there were no realms in which one could predict the result.
From the initial ‘hajime’, it was clear the Sulamanidze had the edge and put a score early on the board with utsuri goshi. At first glance it could have been an ippon score, but Kotsoiev was able to get his elbow down, so though he ceded a waza ari score and a shido, he was still in the game.
As the seconds counted down, both were even on shidos, but in an incredible turn of events, Sulamanidze dropped backwards, for what could have been a sumi gaeshi attempt, but his grips were immediately snapped, and he was issued a third shido for a false attack.
This was possibly one of the biggest tragedies of the judo event so far, and will be something the Georgian athlete remembers for a long time, however he is the first Georgian to take an Olympic medal in the -100kg category. Nevertheless, Kotsoiev earned his place in the final, defeating Peter PALTCHIK (ISR) and Muzzarfarbek TUROBOYEV (UZB) to reach the pinnacle.
I fought all the way to the last seconds, I believed in my win, all the hard work and so many years have gone in to this. My family at home always supported me and I believed even in those final seconds that I could win it. It is like a dream that I don’t ever want to wake up from!
The current World Champion can now boast an Olympic title as well, an incredible year for the Azerbaijani athlete, who also topped the European Championship podium in December.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen