Viktoria Grigoryan Misses Bronze After Repechage Run at Youth Olympic Games
Belgian judoka Viktoria Grigoryan finished fourth in the under-48kg category at the Youth Olympic Games, missing out on a bronze medal after dropping a tight bout to Slovakia’s Vivien Vadovicova.
An Antwerp Judoka’s Battle Through the Repechage Brackets
Ranked 22nd in the cadet world standings, Grigoryan opened her tournament campaign with a convincing ippon victory over Kenya’s 17-year-old Rael Imase in the round of 16. That momentum met resistance in the quarterfinals, where she encountered Portugal’s Sofia Gaspar. Gaspar, ranked fourth globally among cadets at just 16 years old, edged Grigoryan in extra time during a tense golden score period via a yuko conceded in prolongation.
SENEGAL MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY AS YOUTH GAMES BEGINThe 2026 Youth Olympic Games have officially opened in Diamniadio, Senegal, marking the first Olympic sporting event held on African soil. Spectators praised the country's organisation, with some saying the Games could pave the… pic.twitter.com/W7to3L4FCx
Relegated to the repechage rounds, Grigoryan responded with characteristic grit. She secured a golden score victory over 16-year-old Cameroonian Myriam Nsame Mbongo, scoring a yuko in overtime. The Belgian then dispatched Niger’s Aminatou Boucacar Ousmane by ippon, earning her right to contest the bronze medal against Vadovicova. In the medal match, the Slovakian judoka—ranked seventh globally in the cadet division—secured a decisive yuko during regulation time to seal the victory and leave Grigoryan in fourth place.
Flag Bearer Honors and European Pedigree
Before stepping onto the tatami for her medal bouts, Grigoryan earned national distinction during the opening ceremony. Alongside swimmer Alexander van Hoey Billiet, she carried the Belgian flag during Saturday evening’s opening festivities. The honor reflected her standing in European youth competition, having previously claimed a bronze medal at the U18 Cadet European Championships in the same under-48kg weight class.
Robbe Asselman Reaches Wushu Final After Strong Gunshu Routine
In wushu competition, 16-year-old Robbe Asselman advanced to the finals of the Changquan and Gunshu combined discipline. The Dendermonde native placed eighth in the first part of the routine with a score of 8.406 before improving to seventh place in the staff-based Gunshu event with a mark of 8.576. Asselman qualified for Tuesday’s final with a combined total of 16.982. China’s Yilei Lin led the field with a score of 18.780, while the top eight competitors advanced to the medal round.
Célya Paques Claims Belgium’s First Medal in the Pool
Belgium’s medal account on the opening weekend was unlocked by swimmer Célya Paques. The 16-year-old from Liège raced to a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event on Sunday, capturing the delegation’s first podium finish of the fourth Youth Olympic Games edition.
Worth a look
