Marti Malloy, representing the USA in the 57-kg women’s Judo competition, scored one of two bronze medals by defeating defending Olympic champion Giulia Quintavalle of Italy.
Halfway through the first five-minute period, Malloy stepped between Quintavalle’s legs and pushed, tripping her Italian opponent and pinning her back to the mat, scoring an Ippon, or full fall. Malloy is only the second American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo.
Malloy lost to Romania’s Corina Caprioriu in the semi-finals. Caprioriu, who went on to win silver, scored an Ippon with seven seconds left in the second period.
France’s Automne Pavia scored the second bronze, and Japan’s Kaori Matsumoto won gold when Caprioriu was disqualified for illegally grabbing Matsumoto’s pants to complete a throw in the sudden-victory round.
American Nicholas Del Popolo lost in the 73-kg men’s repechage round to Mongolia’s Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal by Yuko, or accumulated penalty points.
The repechage round gives athletes defeated but not eliminated in group rounds one more chance to compete for a medal.
