2024-04-27 16:14:10
Time for revenge for Audrey Tcheuméo. Not selected by the French Judo Federation (FFJDA) for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French fighter was crowned European champion for the fifth time in her career this Saturday in Zagreb (Croatia). Engaged in the -78 kilo category, the experienced judokate defeated the German Anna-Maria Wagner, world number 3, at the end of a breathtaking final.
Too much on the back foot and dominated for most of the fight, Tcheuméo initially found herself up against the wall, penalized twice. The Frenchwoman even suffered a waza-ari 25 seconds from the end, ultimately refused by the refereeing body. Still alive, the one who won the silver medal at the Rio Games in 2016 gained momentum during the golden score. More offensive, she concluded the fight with an incredible ippon before collapsing in tears on the tatami, visibly very moved by her victory which thus gave her her seventh continental medal (five in gold, two in silver).
Tcheuméo will not participate in the Games
As a reminder, Audrey Tcheuméo was not selected by her federation to join the French contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in favor of Madeleine Malonga. Originally, the selection procedures were to end at the end of the European Championships, which are currently taking place in Croatia. But after the Grand Slam in Paris, at the beginning of February, the FFJDA decided to modify this process. The two judokas, who both coveted the last place in the -78 kilo category, were finally decided at a distance, during a final Grand Slam under high tension. In Georgia, Audrey Tcheuméo lost in a fight for bronze, while Madeleine Malonga won the tournament in Turkey.
The French delegation is now awaiting the fights of Julia Tolofua (+78kg), who will compete later in the afternoon in the final against the Israeli Raz Hershko. For her part, Léa Fontaine will be entered for the bronze medal in the same category.
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