At only 22 years old, Romane Dicko won his third crown in style at the European Judo Championships on Sunday in Sofia, from where France left with eight medals.
By defeating the Israeli Raz Hershko in the final over 78 kg, Dicko, world N.1 in her category, allowed France to win her third title in this Euro, after those of Shirine Boukli on Friday (-48 kg) and Marie-Eve Gahié on Saturday (-70 kg).
The joy of the French Romane Dicko, after winning her third continental crown (+78 kg) by beating the Israeli Raz Hershko in the final at the European Judo Championships, May 1, 2022 in Sofia / AFP
Long-awaited for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Romane Dicko, who is pursuing mathematics studies at the Sorbonne in parallel with her career, had already been crowned European champion in 2018 and 2020.
In three participations, the one who also has a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics has never lost a single fight in the continental competition.
The French Romane Dicko, victorious by ippon in 44 sec from the Polish Kinga Wolszczak, in the quarter-finals (+78 kg) at the European Judo Championships, May 1, 2022 in Sofia / AFP
Sunday, after a small scare in her first fight, she bent all her opponents by ippon, being particularly expeditious in the quarter-finals against the Polish Kinga Wolszczak, beaten in 44 seconds.
“I was a little stressed today. It’s true that it’s a stress unfortunately when you’re a category leader,” she said. “And once in the final, I said to myself + Romane, it’s good, you have your European medal. Let go of the horses and have fun! Have fun on the mat and knock it down. +”
The French Romane Dicko against the Israeli Raz Hershko, during their fight in the final (+78 kg) at the European Judo Championships, May 1, 2022 in Sofia / AFP
In the final against the world No.3, Dicko showed impressive control and quickly took the lead on a waza-ari after 30 seconds. At 1 min 30 from the gong, she finally knocked down Hershko on a new ippon.
Her next big meeting on the road to the Paris Olympics is next October in Tashkent in Uzbekistan during the Worlds, a championship in which she has never participated.
– “Frustration” for Malonga –
A little earlier in the afternoon, Madeleine Malonga, Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo last summer, had to settle for the bronze medal in the under 78 kg category.
The 2019 world champion obtained her medal without having to fight in the repechage final since her opponent, the Portuguese Patricia Sampaio, had to withdraw due to injury.
After a Golden Score victory for her entry into the running, Malonga, 28 and world No.2 in her category, lost in the quarter-finals to the Italian Alice Bellandi, 29th in the world, before recovering in repechage against Britain’s Natalie Powell.
The French Madeleine Malonga against the British Natalie Powell, during their repechage fight (-78 kg) at the European Judo Championships, May 1, 2022 in Sofia / AFP
“There is inevitably frustration, because I am a fighter,” admitted Malonga. “I’m going to go back to work and just keep moving forward.”
Despite her disappointment, the Frenchman still won her fourth European medal, after two titles in 2018 and 2020 and bronze in 2019.
In the absence of its stars Teddy Riner, still in the preparation phase, and Clarisse Agbégnénou, who is expecting a baby girl, France ends its competition as the best nation with eight medals: three in gold, two in silver and three in bronze.
The joy of Frenchman Cédric Revol, after winning the bronze medal (-60 kg) by beating Georgian Lukhumi Chkhvimiani, during the European Judo Championships, May 1, 2022 in Sofia / AFP
Among these eight medals, only one is to be credited to the men’s contingent. Out of nine representatives, only Cédric Revol, third in the under 60 kg class on Friday, managed to climb onto the podium.
During the previous edition in Lisbon, the Blues had collected as many medals, but only Amandine Buchard was adorned with gold.
