Huge disappointment for Madeleine Malonga. The Frenchwoman was taken to the ground at the start of her final by the Japanese Hamada in the -78 kg final in judo. A final dispatched in less than a minute, without the French being able to express his talent. The tricolor will still seek a second place, and a fourth silver medal for the French delegation, the 10th overall for the French delegation. A meager consolation prize for Malonga, but a fifth charm for French judo.
Inconsolable Malonga
In tears, the French judokate had a lot of trouble getting up at the end of the fight. A huge blow for the Olympic vice-champion. ” I am really disappointed. Maybe I’ll realize it’s a nice medal. I wanted so much to win her this gold medal. Those are long years of work, for just one chance. This may only happen once at the Olympics. I hope my club is not too disappointed. I will thoroughly prepare for Paris 2024 ”, promised Malonga, moved to the microphones of France TV.
It must be said that there is something to be disappointed with in her fight. The French, world number 1 and world champion in 2019, knew that the ground was the strong point of her opponent. Immobilized after only a few seconds on the tatami, the tricolor judokate was unable to block the leg of her opponent to end the count. Malonga was the victim of a “Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame”, symbol of an ippon and a victory for the Japanese, after barely more than a minute of fighting. The 27-year-old Frenchwoman hopes to be back at the Olympics in 3 years, with a gold medal around her neck.
