Romane DICKO (FRA) was only looking to take a second world title in the +78kg category in Budapest, however she was struck down in the semi final by KIM Hayun (KOR). Coming back to fight for a bronze is never easy, but when that’s the final option, you give everything for it. It has certainly been an interesting week with top seeded players, title holders and seasoned pros going out in the early rounds,
I’m proud to be on the podium because I think this World Championships has been really hard for everyone, so many Olympic medalists and champions have not been able to take a medal, so many surprises! Even if I wanted the gold, to walk away with a medal is still really good feeling for me.
I feel kinda good, of course I wanted to win the semi final but I think the way I lost, I don’t want to say it wasn’t correct but I tried my best, maybe it just wasn’t good enough but I really gave it everything I had. I really hope tomorrow I can try something else with the team.
As Dicko explains, the medal was nice, but her focus now is on improving and you can only learn from loss,
This competition really gave me a lot of things to work on, and I wanted to end today with a medal and show what areas I need to work on. I can say that the last year was really hard, especially for the French, and this year it has been too, but I can be proud of myself, last year I was an Olympic medallist and now a World medallist.
This list wasn’t even including her most recent achievement, a European title in Podgorica which was merely weeks ago,
It was really short as you said, I had one week off then it was right in to worlds preparation, it felt like I stepped off the mat and I was right back in to it. It was really intense for me, my head went straight to the worlds and I wondered if id manage it, but now.. I think I will break for some time!!
Now about that bronze medal contest, she had a very young opponent who came in all guns blazing, with nothing to lose against the world ranked number one, Dicko. Emma-Melis AKTAS (EST) took a Cadet World bronze medal just last year.
Yes! Thats crazy!! She was on the Benidorm Training Camp so I had some practice with her, but I didn’t know she was THAT young! Then when we were preparing earlier for the contest, I saw she had a cadet world medal from last year, and it was so hard to fight with her! Every time after the Olympics, there are a lot of young people coming on to the circuit, even the girl who beat Souza [Olympic Champion, Beatriz SOUZA BRA], she is only young, and they’re coming for us! [she laughs] We have no time to breathe, but they’re keeping us on our toes and have us training hard to stay on the podium for years to come!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen