The Portuguese Grand Prix ended this Sunday in Almada, near Lisbon. Spectators came out in droves to see the heavyweights in action.
In -90 kg, Bulgarian Ivaylo Ivanov won the final against Hungarian Krisztian Toth. The two judokas showed their friendship after the fight.
Frenchman Axel Clerget climbed to the third step of the podium, giving France a fifth bronze medal. The sporting director of the International Judo Federation, Skander Hachicha, presented the medals.
“In judo, you always have to respect your opponent, said Ivaylo Ivanov. We are friends, we are the same age and we both have children. Before our fight, he texted me saying he was very happy to fight me. That’s the sport, we give everything during the fight, but we remain friends.”
The heroine of this third day of competition is called Patricia Sampaio. In -78 kg, the Portuguese offered her country its second gold medal thanks to a perfect course. A tactical victory in the final against the Ukrainian Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko allowed Patricia Sampaio to win her first Grand Prix gold medal, to the delight of the Portuguese public. The medals were presented by the mayor of the city of Almada, Ines de Medeiros.
“It was amazing to have so many people here, rejoiced Patricia Sampaio. I’m not from Lisbon, I live two hours away from here. My family and my friends from the judo club came to cheer me on. I have no words to describe all the support I received. It was just amazing.”
In -100 kg, the Georgian Ilia Sulamanidze won in the final against the young Japanese Dota Arai, consolidating his place as world number 1. IJF Refereeing Supervisor Carlo Knoester presented the medals.
In +78 kg, South Korean Hayun Kim ended Portugal’s hopes of winning another gold medal by defeating Rochelle Nunes in the final. The medals were presented by IJF refereeing supervisor and French judo legend Cathy Fleury.
In +100 kg, Minjong Kim brought to four the number of gold medals won by South Korea, winning the final against Georgian Saba Inaneishvili.
With two gold medals, one silver, and a passionate judo, the Portuguese team succeeded perfectly in its Grand Prix.
