LESKI STEALS THE SHOW IN PARIS

When asking Andreja LESKI (SLO) about her Olympic goals this year in Paris at the start of 2024, she was very relaxed. Leski was happy with her preparation, she was European Champion in Montpellier and wasn’t having to worry about and rivalry at home. What she did mention however, was how nice it would be to be the third woman from Slovenia to claim the Olympic title, and pointing to the breast of her judogi, explained that she would be the third peak of the Triglav, Slovenia’s mountain region which is their coat of arms.

On day four of the judo event in the Paris Olympic Games 2024, Leski made that dream come true and joined the legacy of the Slovenian team. Following in the footsteps of Urska ZOLNIR JUGOVAR and Tina TRSTENJAK, both of whom are in Paris for the Olympic Games, she has also added the first medal to the Olympic table for Team Slovenia.

Leski overcame top seed in her quarter, Catherine BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD (CAN) in the quarter final, meaning she was heading through to meet the favourite of the day, defending Olympic Champion, Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (FRA). Having met each other before, it was always going to be a tough contest, but Leski stunned both Agbegnenou and the crowd, scoring waza ari in the final seconds. Though the French athlete gave everything she had, there was simply no coming back, and Leski was in to the Olympic final.

There, Leski met surprise of the day, Prisca AWITI ALCARAZ (MEX), making history for her nation with the first medal in judo in the Olympic Games. It had been a stunning day for both, and regardless of the result, a very happy ending. Awiti was first to score with tomoe nage, surprising Leski a little who then went on the attack, scoring waza ari of her own and transitioning immediately in to the osae komi. In those ten seconds, Leski knew the title was coming to her.

Huge celebrations ensued, and after celebrating with team mates, spoke to Eurosport, and asking how she felt this morning she stated,

I knew I had five fights, so let’s go all in and enjoy! Right now I could just explode from joy!

This is the second Olympic title for the European Judo Union, huge congratulations to all of the medallists.