2023-05-13 19:49:55
The step was too high. For her first world final, Julia Tolofua (25) could not get rid of the Japanese Akira Sone, reigning Olympic champion, and was beaten to the golden score on Saturday May 13 at the Doha Worlds. The judoka in the heavyweight category had to settle for a silver medal, which still represents the best performance of her career. She had been a bronze medalist last year.
“I would have liked to do more, to go stronger, she confided, in tears, to the microphone of La Chaîne L’Équipe after her defeat. I would have preferred to have the gold, but I’m having a great day. And then, losing at the golden score is always better than taking a box. »
Frustration necessarily predominates hot, especially since the French was in the game until the end and gave in being penalized a third time during sudden death. She can still dry her tears while contemplating her charm, which places her among the best in the category.
She is back for the Olympics
Before its final with a bitter ending, Tolofua had a faultless run, culminating in an already unbreathable semi-final against Shiyan Xu, again finished with a golden score, after more than six minutes. Before that, she played Amarantha Urdaneta, Marit Kamps and Beatriz Souza, each time in the allotted time and without really shaking. The results of her Worlds are therefore positive for the Wallisian of origin.
If we look even further, the cousin of French international rugby players Selevasio (Toulouse) and Christopher (Toulon) also scored points for the Olympic Games.
The premature and unexpected elimination of her friend Romane Dicko in the second round indeed does her business and puts her back in the race, while there will be only one ticket to represent France at the Olympic Games in the category of +78 kg in just over a year.
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