Member News

April 1 , 2006

Rousey Wins Gold at Birmingham World Cup

Ronda Rousey (Buffalo, Grove, Ill./NYAC/Cohen’s Judo/63kg) became the first U.S. woman to win a European A-Level tournament in nearly a decade when she won gold at the Birmingham World Cup in Great Britain on Saturday.

Rousey went undefeated in five matches to claim her second senior European gold medal, following a win at the B-Level Belgian Open in Arlon in February.

The 19-year-old ousted her first two opponents by ippon (instant win, similar to a knockout in boxing).

In the quarter-finals, Rousey had another meeting with Christina Marzok, the German she defeated in the semi-finals in Belgium.  Rousey scored throughout the match with two kokas (smallest points) and a yuko (quarter-point) before ultimately winning by waza-ari (half-point).

Next up for the Athens Olympian was Sara Alvarez (ESP), a three-time World Championship medalist who won her first senior European event when Rousey was just 7-years-old and has claimed nine A-Level titles since then.  Rousey defeated Alvarez in two and a half minutes with her third ippon of the day to advance to gold medal match.

In the final, Rousey threw Fanny Riaboff (FRA), a 2005 World Cup Champion at 57kg, for ippon with o uchi gari (major inner reaping, circling leg throw) to become the first U.S. woman to win an A-Level event since three-time Olympian Sandra Bacher won the Budapest Bank Cup in 1997.

Rousey’s win also makes her one of only two U.S. athletes to achieve A-Level status in 2006 and is expected to move up to a top-six World Ranking next week. 

Also competing Saturday, Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif./NYAC/East Bay Judo Institute/48kg) drew World bronze medalist Alina Dumitru (ROM) in the first round, losing the match by a pair of waza-aris.  Dumitru, who would later win the event, pulled Matsumoto through to the repechage where she lost by yuko to Virginie Marie (FRA).

Complete results and links to draw sheets are as follows:

Women’s 48kg

1. Alina Dumitru (ROM)

2. Natalia Samoilova (RUS)

3. Jun Xiao (CHN)

3. V. Arenas Comeron (ESP)

5. Oiano Blanco (ESP)

5. Ana Hormigo (POR)

7. Virginie Marie (FRA)

7. Leandra Freitas (POR)

Also Competed: Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif./NYAC/East Bay Judo Institute), 0-2

Women’s 52kg

1. Ang Zhu (CHN)

2. Zardgo Carrascosa (ESP)

3. Joana Ramos (POR)

3. Liudmila Bogdanova (RUS)

5. Yamilka Del Valle Alvarez (CUB)

5. Rahel Walser (SUI)

7. Jodie Carter (GBR)

7. Sonia Andonegui (ESP)

Women’s 57kg

1. Yaling Yu (CHN)

2. Abrev Espinosa (CUB)

3. Maria Lindberg (SWE)

3. Yahaira Dguirre De Juan (ESP)

5. Arina Alexandrova (RUS)

5. Irene Chevreuil (FRA)

7. Maryse Guilbault (CAN)

7. Teresa Mirrado (POR)

Women’s 63kg

1. Ronda Rousey (Buffalo Grove, Ill./NYAC/Cohen’s Judo), 5-0

2. Fanny Riaboff (FRA)

3. Sarah Clark (GBR)

3. Sara Alvarez (ESP)

5. Vera Koval (RUS)

5. Andreja Cavalleri (POR)

7. Christina Marzok (GER)

7. Liubov Belskaia (RUS)