Japan wrapped up a mostly successful judo competition at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, August 3 with a silver medal in the mixed team event.
On the final day of the judo competition in the French capital, Japan got off to a promising start when men's 90-kilogram silver medalist Sanshiro Murao beat Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou with a spectacular ippon in golden score.
Rika Takayama then downed Romane Dicko in the women's over-70 kg bout with a waza-ari to make it 2-0.
But French judo legend Teddy Riner, a 35-year-old three-time individual Olympic gold medalist, seized the momentum for the host nation and electrified the crowd at Champ-de-Mars Arena with an ippon victory over Tatsuru Saito in the over-90-kg class.
Natsumi Tsunoda put Japan ahead 3-1 when she defeated Sarah Leonie Cysique in the women's 57-kg class. But three unanswered victories, the last coming from Riner again over Saito, allowed France to claim gold with the 4-3 comeback.
French Judo Legend Reflects on the Experience in His Homeland
"It feels good, especially when it happens this way, with such a crowd, with my family that was there to cheer me on," Riner said, according to The Associated Press.
Added the French icon who helped light the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony, "We understand why, all those years we travel abroad, we train hard, why there are moments of doubt. I know why I did it, and I have a lot of pride to have done it here."
Olympic Judo Team Rematch: France-Japan Showdown
The final was a repeat of the mixed team final in Tokyo three years ago where France also beat Japan to claim gold while the host settled for silver.
"The athletes fought really hard," Japan coach Katsuyuki Masuchi said, according to Kyodo News. "I hoped to celebrate the great experience of winning the gold medal with them."
Japan's Olympic Judo Medal Haul
In total, Japan won the most gold medals with three and added two silver and three bronze.
Host France, which has a stellar judo tradition, won two gold medals, two silver and six bronze, finishing two ahead of Japan in total medals.
Speaking on TBS' "Sunday Morning" news program, two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryoko Tani said the host nation deserves credit.
"I think France's success prevented a Japanese medal rush in the judo competition," Tani said.
Things got off to a good start when Tsunoda won Japan's first gold medal in the women's 48-kg event on Saturday, July 27.
But, unfortunately for Japan, the good vibes didn't last long.
On the very next day, gold-medal favorite Uta Abe, sister of judo standout Hifumi Abe, suffered a shock defeat by ippon in just the second round of the women's 52-kg division to eventual gold-medal winner Diyora Keldiyorova of Uzbekistan.
Uta and Hifumi both won gold at the Tokyo Games on the same day three years earlier, one of the highlights for the host nation. Uta was understandably devastated by her loss but put on a brave face afterwards.
Hifumi restored family and national pride later that day when he defeated Brazil's Willian Lima in the final of the men's 66-kg event to capture Japan's second judo gold medal of the Paris Games.
Nagase Retains Olympic Judo Title
Another highlight came for Japan on Wednesday, July 31 when Takanori Nagase defeated three-time world champion Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia by ippon to defend his title in the men's 81-kg final.
Nagase became the first man ever to win back-to-back gold medals in the 81-kg category. He has medaled in three consecutive Olympics, starting with a bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games followed by gold in Tokyo.
That was the final gold medal for Japan.
Other medal winners for Japan were Ryuju Nagayama, who took bronze in the men's 60-kg event; Soichi Hashimoto, who captured bronze in the men's 73-kg category; and Murao, the silver medalist in the men's 90-kg division.
In addition, Haruka Funakubo took bronze in the women's 57-kg class. That event was won by Canadian Christa Deguchi.
Deguchi was born in Japan to a Canadian father and Japanese mother. Though competing for Canada, the 28-year-old Deguchi still lives and trains in Japan.
All in all, it was a successful outing for Japan. It wasn't the dominant performance that the host nation achieved three years in Tokyo when it won nine golds to France's two to top the table.
But winning the most gold medals in any international competition is a lofty achievement and Japan's judoka should be proud.
RELATED:
- Judoka Takanori Nagase Repeats as an Olympic Champion
- Hifumi Abe Defends Olympic Judo Title with a Mighty Performance in the Final
- Confidence Propels Veteran Judoka Natsumi Tsunoda to an Olympic Gold
Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
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