The European Open in Warsaw has become a real sense of achievement for two Hanoverians. Pauline Starke in the class up to 57 and Anna Monta Olek up to 78 kilograms, both from the Hanover judo team, won the gold medals in their classes.
Starke celebrated her brilliant comeback. In November she had undergone a meniscus operation. A lot of rehab and then a long build-up training followed. “Now I felt fit enough for a tournament like this,” she said. The opponents had to recognize that too. Four times she had to go to the mat, four times she won prematurely – either in ground combat, with throws or tactical strength when she imposed penalties on the opponents. In the final against the Spaniard Carla Ubasart Mascaro the fight was over after 2:22 minutes. “I would have liked to have added a few more throws,” said Starke. But after her quick victories, she didn’t have the opportunity to do that anymore. “In a week I will also start at the European Open in Prague,” she said. There we can throw further.
First international women’s tournament for Olek
Olek completed her first international tournament with women – even if she still belongs to the junior class. But that didn’t stop her from winning in the class up to 78 kilograms. After early victories against Rachel Tyler (Great Britain) and Marie Fernandez (France), it was against Lucia Perez Gomez from Spain over the full time of four minutes. But Olek also won on points.
In the final she faced an old friend. Yael Van Heemst of the Netherlands defeated her in the finals of both the U21 European Championship and the U21 World Championship last year. Now the Dutchwoman had even walked into the final with three early victories. But there Olek was the better one again. After 2:26 minutes, the Hanoverian had put her rival back on the mat. Olek will also compete again in Prague.
By Matthias Abromeit
