Opposite fates among the tricolor heavyweights. While the big favorite Romane Dicko fell as soon as she entered the competition, her compatriot Julia Tolofua continues her journey with brio and will compete in the +78 kg final on Saturday at the Doha Worlds. The Frenchwoman (25) dominated Xu in the semi-finals, and secured at least a silver medal. It’s already better than at the last World Championships in 2022, where the cousin of rugby players Selevasio and Christopher Tolofua won bronze.
Is it in reference to her cousins, respectively players from Toulouse and Toulon, that she wears a red and black dye? It is to believe that this one brings him luck, since Julia Tolofua wrote, Saturday in Qatar, the most beautiful page of his career. While waiting to find out the metal of her charm, the native Wallisian went through all the feelings. She went to the end of herself to reach the final, after a stressful half ended with the golden score after more than six minutes. She will find the Japanese Akira Sone, Olympic champion in title, to complete this day which she hopes golden.
On the way to the Olympics?
Dominating in all of her fights before that, Tolofua rose through the ranks one by one, knocking out Amarantha Urdaneta, Marit Kamps and Beatriz Souza in succession, each time within the allotted time. His joy contrasts with the disappointment of Romane Dicko, who left through the very small door. Above all, this performance could allow Tolofua to score big points for the Olympic Games… to the detriment of Dicko, since only one of the two will be able to represent France in Paris, in fourteen months.
“It wasn’t really the plan, we were thinking more of a Franco-French semi-final, but Julia made a thunderous start to the day. She is released, she brings down her opponents, now it’s the Japanese in the final, we’ll have to go get her. Julia has to show that she is capable of winning a big championship because there is competition in this category. it’s a great emulation, but the spirit is good and I’m convinced that Romane will encourage him during this final. This is her first world final, she has everything to gain, ”said Christophe Massina, the manager of the France team at the microphone of the L’Equipe channel.
