-78kg Gold: Lytvynenko (UAE)
It was youth against experience as the 22-year-old Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko took on 36-year-old Audrey Tcheumeo. It was a hard battle that was eventually settled on the ground in the final minute of their contest, with the UAE player pinning the French veteran campaigner, who is still as strong as ever.
After the match, Lytvynenko said: “Today was a hard day but now I feel much better than I did this morning. I am very excited for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, especially since these two years after the Paris Olympics went by so fast. To be honest, I didn't really have a specific game plan against the French judoka… I don't study opponents deeply, but because you remember how they fight from previous contests, it becomes more about feeling what they do on the mat.”
+78kg Gold: Arai (JPN)
There was no score during regular time in the final between Mao Arai and Romane Dicko (FRA). In Golden Score, Arai very nearly scored with a sacrifice technique. The referee had given a yuko but this was over-ruled by the video judges. The match carried on and in the end, Arai won through newaza, pinning her French opponent who could not escape and submitted.
Mao Arai said: "It feels amazing to win here, especially since it’s been about two years since my last victory, at the 2024 Tokyo Grand Slam. After finishing second at the World Championships, I am truly happy to take first place. To prepare, I spent a lot of time with my coaches analysing my past losses, including my contest against Roman Dicko, and practised extensively. With every Grand Slam now serving as an Olympic qualifier, the environment is entirely different. The competition has intensified because so many athletes are fighting for qualification points. This makes the next two years incredibly challenging as everyone grows stronger, but I am determined to keep pushing forward without losing. My next tournament is the World Championships in Baku, where my goal is to win and secure the red back patch. I must say that since starting judo at age 10, I have always dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion and winning the mixed team gold in Los Angeles would mean everything to me because it represents the combined strength of the entire team, not just individual effort.”
