All eyes were on Catarina Costa, Portugal’s Olympic star and heavy favourite, as she competed in a category above her usual weight class at the Portimão Senior European Cup 2024. However, the semi-finals brought a shock that left the crowd stunned. Raquel Brito, another talented Portuguese judoka, stole the spotlight with a stunning victory over Costa, winning by Ippon through a brilliant ne-waza technique. This came after Brito had already secured victory against Italy’s Alessandra Rocco, showing her dominant form early in the competition.
Brito’s win over Costa sent shockwaves through the arena, setting the stage for the final where she faced Iara Guedes. Despite Guedes’ valiant effort and repeated attempts to avoid Brito’s lethal ne-waza, Brito delivered a breathtaking performance. With impeccable timing, she executed a flawless sumi-gaeshi that immediately transitioned into a decisive juji-gatame, earning her the victory by submission and closing out a perfect day on the tatami.
While Brito’s triumph was the story of the day for the Portuguese fans, the men’s side of the competition also delivered unforgettable moments. The electrifying Nace Herkovic from Slovenia grabbed everyone’s attention with a grueling first-round fight that lasted over nine minutes. After surviving that ‘marathon’, Herkovic found his rhythm and cruised through the remainder of the day. His standout moment came in the final, where he executed a luxurious o-goshi against Davit Aghasaryan from the United States, securing his gold medal with style.
Adding to the excitement, the tournament also featured a family affair with the brothers of two prominent judoka competing. Mohab Elnahas, brother of Canadian star Shady Elnahas, fought valiantly in the -90kg category to earn a silver medal. In the -81 kg category, Nicolas Yonezuka, brother of American gold medalist of the -73kg, Jack Yonezuka, battled his way to a bronze medal match, showcasing the depth of talent across generations.
The second day of the Portimão Senior European Cup maintained the exhilarating pace set on Saturday. Judo fans were treated to not only top-tier performances but also the kind of unexpected, dramatic moments that make the sport so captivating. Portimão, once again, proved itself to be a perfect stage for judo brilliance.
Text: Carlos Ramos / Images: Miguel Galhardas
Author: Szandra Szogedi