Brazil is celebrating its first gold medal of Rio 2016 after judoka Rafaela Silva completed her rise from the “City of God” favela to the top of the Olympic podium.
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But the victory provided some vindication for the racial abuse Silva, who is black, endured from Brazilians after missing out on a medal at the 2012 London Games.
It was still a good result for Dorjsuren, who improved upon a bronze at the World Championships past year and claimed Mongolia’s first medal of Rio 2016.
She also settled an old Olympic score.
Rafela Silva came from the Cidade de Deus favela which was made famous in the film “City of God”.
The ninth-place finisher at the 2012 London Games defeated German fighter Miryam Roper and South Korea’s Kim Jan-di in her first two bouts. But defending Olympic champion Sarah Menezes narrowly lost out on a bronze on Saturday in the 48kg category, and so did Erika Miranda at 52kg on Sunday.
Japan’s Kaori Matsumoto, world champion and London gold medalist, was stunned in the semi-finals and went on to settle for bronze.
The two-time world champion was a class above his rivals throughout, producing a waza-ari and then an ippon to sweep past Azerbaijan’s Rustam Orujov in the final.
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Greater success followed for Japan as they finally claimed a first Rio 2016 gold medal in the judo courtesy of Shohei Ono in the under 73kg division. Japan won just one gold medal in judo at the London Games, considered an embarrassment for the birthplace of the sport, and is eager to atone in Rio. A total of 16 golds are up for grabs including Michael Phelps’ bid for a 20th Olympic title, the women’s team gymnastics final, as well as fencing, judo, diving, and weightlifting. The supporters really helped me with momentum and the pressure against my opponents. Belgium’s Dirk Van Tichelt and Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili took bronze.
