Weekend Wrapped: Judoka end long European wait

Judo 03 May 22

Great Britain had waited since 2006 for a European title in judo and then two came along at once.

On Friday Tokyo bronze medallist Chelsie Giles secured her first-ever major title with gold in the women’s -52kg category in Sofia.

The 25-year-old beat France’s world No.1 Amandine Buchard for the first time, coming through in golden time in the final after the two fighters could not be separated following the mandatory four minutes.

Giles said: “I cannot believe it. It’s so overwhelming, I think it will take a while to fully sink in.

“I have spent a lot of time studying those losses to see what I did well and where I can improve. Jamie [Johnson, head coach] and I worked on a plan and I am so happy it paid off today.”

The very next day Gemma Howell also scooped a first European title with victory in the women’s -63kg registering two waza-ari scores to defeat Laura Fazliu of Kosovo in the final.

Jones and Walkden among taekwondo medals

Britain's taekwondo fighters warmed up for their home European Championships with a slew of medals at the Swedish Open.

Jade Jones, who took victory at February's Presidents Cup on her return to action, beat team-mate Aaliyah Powell 9-5 to take gold in the -57kg category.

Bianca Walkden downed Belen Moran Romero 22-3 to reach the rostrum with Olympic silver medallist Lauren Williams winning a medal of the same colour in Stockholm.

The big target for the British team is the Europeans, which will take place in Manchester on 19-22 May. GB brought back five medals from the last edition of the event in 2021.

Eve Muirhead completes the set

Eve Muirhead secured the final curling title not already in her trophy cabinet, with victory at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships alongside Bobby Lammie.

The Scotland pair went unbeaten in Geneva as Muirhead won her first World title since 2013 and added to the women’s gold she won in Beijing earlier this year.

For Lammie, the triumph marks his first on the world stage since his junior days and ensures the celebrations keep coming after he was part of Team Mouat’s Olympic silver-winning squad having earlier clinched the European title.

READ MORE: Muirhead - "It's really special to have completed the set."

Badminton Olympians on the European rostrum

Kirsty Gilmour claimed a third women’s singles silver at the European Badminton Championships with defeat in the final to Spain’s Carolina Marin.

The pair met in the gold medal match for the third time and as in 2016 and 2017 Marin scooped the prize, winning her sixth title with a 21-10, 21-12 triumph.

Gilmour has added to her impressive European collection as she upgraded her bronze from last year’s Championships in Kyiv.

Fellow Tokyo Olympians Ben Lane and Sean Vendy also brought back medals from Madrid, winning bronze in the men’s doubles.

The duo lost to the eventual champions Mark Lamsfuss and Martin Seidel across two hard fought games, going down 23-21 21-17 in the semi-final, but it was still enough to claim their first European medals.

ICYMI: Paris 2024 prep camps announced

Just before Great Britain’s sporting stars raked in the medals over the weekend, Team GB announced the location for their preparation camps for Paris 2024.

Reims will host Team GB’s athletes as they train, prepare and acclimatise in the French city in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while athletics, football, rugby and hockey to be based at Saint-Germain-en-Laye for their final preparations.

Sportsbeat 2022

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