French Women’s Judo Team (Courtesy Yahoo Sports)
The judokas of France were able to edge out the rest of the nations at this year’s Olympics.
Led by Gold medalist Lucie Decosse, they also gained 4 bronze medals to lead the count to 5. Japan was in second with one of each.
Most nations got two medals each – with no one nation getting multiple golds. Romania was the only country to take home two silvers.
Competition ended Friday with Zhuang Xiaoyan of China taking gold in the heavyweight, with Cuban Estela Rodríguez taking silver.
Harrison and Malloy Courtesy USA Judo
The headline this week was the strong show by Americans Kayla Harrison (78 kg) and Marti Malloy (57 kg), who got Gold and Bronze respectively. Being the only two to qualify from the U.S., the team looks to build momentum coming into the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Shaherkani (White) and Mojica (Blue) Courtesy Getty Images
History was also made by Wojdan Shaherkani, who was the first ever Saudi Arabian woman to compete in Judo. She fought to have her head covered to respect her religious beliefs. Even though she was a blue belt and was outmatched by Puerto Rico’s Melissa Mojica, the 16 year old was given cheers by the crowd in a true show of support and sportswomanship.
Here are the medal counts (and medal winners) of the 2012 Olympics in Judo.
Medal Counts
- France – 1 (G) 4 (B)
- Japan – 1 (G) 1 (S) 1 (B)
- China 1 (G) 1 (S)
- Romania – 2 (S)
- USA – 1 (G) 1 (B)
- Brazil – 1 (G) 1 (B)
- Slovenia 1 (G) 1 (B)
- Cuba 1 (S) 1 (B)
- North Korea 1 (G)
- Germany 1 (S)
- Great Britain 1 (S)
- Belgium 1 (B)
- Columbia 1 (B)
- Hungery 1 (B)
- Italy 1 (B)
- Netherlands 1 (B)
Medalists
Extra-lightweight (48 kg)
- Gold – Sarah MenezesBrazil (BRA)
- Silver - Alina Dumitru Romania (ROU)
- Bronze – Éva Csernoviczki Hungary (HUN)
- Bronze - Charline Van Snick Belgium (BEL)
Half-lightweight (52 kg)
- Gold - An Kum-Ae North Korea (PRK)
- Silver - Yanet Bermoy Cuba (CUB)
- Bronze - Rosalba Forciniti Italy (ITA)
- Bronze - Priscilla Gneto France (FRA)
Lightweight (57 kg)
- Gold - Kaori Matsumoto Japan (JPN)
- Silver - Corina Căprioriu Romania (ROU)
- Bronze - Marti Malloy United States (USA)
- Bronze - Automne Pavia France (FRA)
Half-middleweight (63 kg)
- Gold - Urška Žolnir Slovenia (SLO)
- Silver - Xu Lili China (CHN)
- Bronze - Yoshie Ueno Japan (JPN)
- Bronze - Gévrise Émane France (FRA)
Middleweight (70 kg)
- Gold - Lucie Decosse France (FRA)
- Silver - Kerstin Thiele Germany (GER)
- Bronze - Yuri Alvear Colombia (COL)
- Bronze - Edith Bosch Netherlands (NED)
Half-heavyweight (78 kg)
- Gold - Kayla Harrison United States (USA)
- Silver - Gemma Gibbons Great Britain (GBR)
- Bronze - Audrey Tcheuméo France (FRA)
- Bronze - Mayra Aguiar Brazil (BRA)
Heavyweight (+78 kg)
- Gold - Idalys Ortíz Cuba (CUB)
- Silver – Mika Sugimoto Japan (JPN)
- Bronze - Karina Bryant Great Britain (GBR)
- Bronze - Tong Wen China (CHN)
