Mission accomplished for French judo, with 3 titles, 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. The tricolor delegation again reaped a good harvest of charms during the European Championships in Sofia (Bulgaria), which were held from April 29 to May 1, and logically figures at the top of the European nations. Sunday May 1, Romane Dicko won, at 22, his third continental title.
But the Blues can feed some regrets. Among the men, only Cédric Revol (-60kg), left with a medal around his neck, in the absence of many executives from the France team. Here is what to remember from these three days on the Bulgarian tatami mats.
She knew she was expected, Romane Dicko answered present. Smiling from ear to ear and heart in her hair, the bronze medalist in Tokyo distributed the good points on the tatami mats. After having released the Czech Marketa Paulusova, the French was quick against the Polish Kinga Wolszczak and against the Turkish Sebile Akbulut. No time to lose for the 22-year-old, who was seeking her third European title.
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In a tricky final against the Israeli Raz Hershko, winner of the 2021 Antalya Grand Prix, Romane Dicko, technically and physically superior, won without trembling. La member of PSG judo thus offers a third title to the tricolor delegation after the medals of Shirine Boukli (-48kg) and Marie-Eve Gahié (-70kg).
In the -78kg category, Madeleine Malonga settled for bronze on Sunday. European champion (2018 and 2020) and Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo, the Frenchwoman was knocked out in the quarter-finals by the Italian Alice Bellandi. After defeating the Briton Natalie Powell in the repechage, the Frenchwoman benefited from the withdrawal of Patricia Sampaio, injured, to win her 4th European medal.
Gold, silver or bronze: the French won a range of medals. In -70kg, Marie-Eve Gahié (gold) and Margaux Pinot (bronze) shone. Marie-Eve Gahié thus returns to victory after three long years of scarcity since her world title in 2019.
Respect
At the end of a very fine day of competition, Marie-Ève Gahié and Margaux Pinot won two new medals for the French team.
Our Blues keep their place on the medal table! #JudoSofia2022 #ProudToBeJudoka pic.twitter.com/htRjSSAdnZ
– France Judo (@francejudo_) April 30, 2022
Amandine Buchard (-52 kg) and Sarah-Léonie Cysique (-57 kg) can for their part harbor some regrets after losing in the final. Reigning European champion and Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo, Amandine Buchard was trapped by the Briton Chelsie Giles. Sarah-Léonie Cysique has come up against her pet peeve, the Israeli Timna Nelson Levy, who had already beaten her at the Tel Aviv Grand Prix. A symbolic victory for Israel, which had not won a continental crown for women since 1993.
The days pass and look alike for the French men’s team. Only the bronze medal of Cédric Revol (-60kg) came to expand the tricolor balance sheet. Deprived of its Olympic champions, resting or injured, the French team is struggling. Joseph Terhec, aligned in +100kg in a category absent from the continental meeting since 2018, did not cross the first round milestone on Sunday against the German Johannes Frey.
Same observation for Cedric Olivar, in -100kg, ejected from the start by the Azerbaijani Elmar Gasimov. No rescue therefore, for a French team which has not recorded a European title for men since 2016 and the successes of a certain Teddy Riner (+100kg) and Walide Khyar (-60kg).
Like these three days, the tricolor balance sheet is in chiaroscuro. With 8 medals, the French are doing as well as at the last European championships. In number of titles, they do even better: only Amandine Buchard was on the top step of the podium in 2021. We are far, however, from the 5 titles of 2020 (Boukli, Agbégnénou, Pinot, Malonga, Dicko).