JUDO: Eighteen-year-old Naomi de Bruine has won a bronze medal in the Judo Mixed Continental Team competition at the Youth Olympic Games.

“I still can’t really believe it,” she said not long after receiving her medal. “I am just standing here asking myself what happened.”

At the Longjiang Gymnasium on Day 5 of competition, de Bruine competed alongside Judokas from Japan, Italy, France, Peru, Luxemburg, Israel and Slovenia in Team Xian. In the new format event four male and four female comprised each team, with each athlete contesting at least two bouts.

“I like the concept of mixed teams event,” de Bruine, of New South Wales said.

“You get to know everyone and make new friends. You get into it and cheer people on. You get the atmosphere and that makes things so much better.”

A member of the Budokan Judo Club , in Castle Hill NSW, de Bruine had two bouts in the competitions.

“My first was a bye, after which I came up against the Austrian,” she said of Michaela Polleres who beat her with Ippon by Kami-shiho-gatame in 01:45 seconds.

The 18-year-old did not think she had the best performance in the new format event.

“I wasn’t happy with my overall performance,” said the Judoka who is coached by Seoul Olympian Kerrye Katz.

“Against the Austrian, I made a mistake and she threw me on floor and held me down.”

In her second bout, de Bruine came up against Morgane Duchene of France, who she had fought against in the individual competition. Duchene beat de Bruine with Ippon by Kesa-gatame in 00:43 seconds.

“I went out there for the best, but it was not my night. She threw me and I ended up losing that one.”

Despite not thinking it was her best performance, de Bruine was happy to receive her medal.

“It was good to get up on the dias. Good to get up with everyone.”

Frances Cordaro
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam