Photos Tamas Zahonyi and Gabiela Sabau
Kayla Harrison has won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the -78 kg division, the first Olympic gold in the history of judo in the USA. She defeated Gemma Gibbons from Great Britain in the finals, scoring 2 yukos in the match that went the full five minutes. The win also returns her to the #1 ranking in the world.
From the IJF Report:
“Kayla Harrison…won the first ever gold medal for the USA in judo. Harrison had a steely look in her eyes from her very first contest and ruthlessly dispatched her first opponent within a minute, before throwing the seeded Abigel Joo for Ippon. Most spectacular was her semi-final, where she devastated the world number one Mayra Aguiar (BRA) with a Juji-gatame armlock. In the final Harrison always looked favourite for the title, and she never gave Gibbons an inch, always beating the Brit to the attack. Two Yuko scores were enough to secure her the gold medal and make history for her homeland.”
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NBC Report (with video excerpts of final match)
USA Today
ESPN
Washington Post
L.A. Times
