With 3 titles, 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals, the French team finished the European Judo Championships in first place.
Less than a year after the Tokyo Olympics, tricolor judokas and judokas had an appointment in Sofia, Bulgaria. The opportunity for them to establish their domination during the European championships. From the first day, it was Shirine Boukli (-48kg) who won her category and allowed France to obtain its very first medal in this Euro. In -52kg, after more than 5 minutes of Golden Score, Amandine Buchard lost to the Briton Chelsie Giles and settled for silver. Same metal for Sarah-Léonie Cysique in -57kg. On the men’s side, Cédric Revol (-60kg) takes bronze after a very good competition.
During the second day in Sofia, Marie-Eve Gahié climbed on the highest step of the podium in -70kg. The tricolor judokate finds the defending champion, Sanne Van Dijken, in the final. Always on the initiative in this fight, the Frenchwoman scores a waza ari on a seoi nage at the end of the sleeve. Despite a fright at the end of the fight, she retained her advantage and became European champion for the first time in her career after winning bronze in 2017 and 2020. In the same category, Margaux Pinot took bronze after brilliantly made its way from the repechages.
Romane Dicko three times titled at only 22 years old
Highly anticipated, the third and final day allowed France to conclude these European championships in style. In -78kg, Madeleine Malonga takes bronze, her fourth European medal after two titles in 2018 and 2020 and bronze in 2019. In +78kg, Romane Dicko was eagerly awaited. In the final, the French crosses paths with world number 3 Riz Hershko. After 30 seconds, on a perfectly placed o-uchi-gari, the tricolor scored a waza-ari. The Israeli is then sanctioned by the referee with a penalty for an arm too far back. It is finally 90 seconds from the gong that Romane Dicko places her harai-goshi allowing her to become triple European champion at only 22 years old.
The 2023 European Championships in Montpellier
Many of these athletes will try to keep the medals acquired in 2023, in France. Indeed, nine years later, the individual European championships are back in Montpellier. The Sud de France Arena will host the next edition of the biggest European judo competition. The handover took place during the break of the third day of competition, during the traditional flag handover ceremony. In accordance with tradition, Mr. Roumen Stoilov, president of the Bulgarian Judo Federation handed over the flag of the European Judo Union to Michal Vachun, vice-president of the European Judo Union who himself handed it over to Gévrise Emane, vice-president of the French Judo Federation. As a reminder, France will also organize the 2022 European Mixed Team Championships in Mulhouse on November 12.
