February 5, 2012 - Team USA's Kayla Harrison, favored to capture gold at the Olympics in London this summer, defeated Japan's world-ranked No. 1 player ot take the silver medal at one of the planet's toughest tournaments today.
"It was a huge win for Kayla's confidence heading into the Olympics, because she now knows she can beat every top girl in the world in her division," said Jimmy Pedro, head coach of the Olympic Judo Team.
"Today Kayla decisively beat Japan's Akari Ogata... dominating the entire fight and winning by three yukos and a wazari. Kayla controlled the entire fight and was never in any danger," Pedro said. "In fact, I believe Kayla broke the Japanese girl's spirit about half way through the match because she stayed aggressive throughout the fight despite being so far ahead."
Harrison, 78 kg (NYAC/Team FORCE, Wakefield, Mass.), who was named fighter of the day along with Germany's Ole Bischof, added her silver to the bronze won yesterday by Team USA's Marti Malloy, 57 kg (USA Judo National Training Center, San Jose State University, CA). This is the first time the United States has taken two medals at the same Grand Slam in Paris, a premier tournament in one of the strongest judo nations on earth. Added to that, Nick Delpopolo, 73 kg (NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY) won two matches to place fifth before losing to the eventual gold medalist in the division, Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal of Mongolia.
Kayla started the day strong, throwing Kazakhstan's Galiya Ulmentayeva for yuko with harai makikomi, then pinning her ippon.
In the second round she defeated her Canadian rival Amy Cotton, throwing her with another harai makikomi for yuko, and then for ippon with a Sumi Gaeshi in the first 90 seconds of the match.
In the quarterfinal, Kayla beat Stephanie Possamai of France. Possamai made a sacrifice attack that Kayla converted to a pin, yoko shiho gatame, for ippon and victory.
That put Kayla in the semi-finals where she defeated Japan's Ogata, No. 1 in the world, who recently beat Kayla for gold at the Tokyo Grand Slam in Japan.
In the final, Kayla faced her nemesis, Brazil's Mayra Aguiar, keeping the heat on her opponent from beginning to end. Kayla was "the better and more dominant player," Pedro said. "She just did not get the win."
During the first minute of the match, Kayla launched the Brazilian sky high and threw her on her head. Twice Kayla knocked down the Brazilian and was awarded yukos that were waived off. Kayla was up by 1 shido with 30 seconds to go when the Brazilian caught Kayla with a Sumi Gaeshi for a yuko. "In the end, Aguiar just did enough to avoid a match tying penalty," said Pedro.
"It was a terrific event for Kayla," Pedro said. "She looked explosive, dynamic, and strong all day. She clearly has established herself as a favorite for gold in London."
"The staff and I could not be prouder of the way our future Olympic team competed here in Paris," Pedro said. "Hopefully this is a sign of great things to come in London."
- Story by Ernest Pund
