ACOG - News - IBM

(26 July 1996; Day 7)

16-Year-Old Unknown Wins Gold, Shocks Judo World

KYE Sun of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea sent shock waves around the world of judo when she upset highly favored Ryoko TAMURA of Japan to win the gold medal in the women's extra lightweight division. TAMURA, the Japanese champion, had won 84 straight matches; not losing since the Barcelona Games in 1992.

The 16-year-old KYE, looking poised and confident in her preliminary rounds, slipped past Tamara MEIJER of the Netherlands in her first match of the morning and went on to outpoint Sarah NICHILO of France to reach the semifinals. Her explosive style gained her the victory over Spain's Yolanda SOLER to set up a championship match between TAMURA, the 1993 and 1995 World Champion who had not lost since the finals of the 1992 Olympic Games, and KYE, who had not won a single international competition prior to the final.

A ferocious competitor, KYE attacked relentlessly,. scoring on an early maneuver and taking a lead she did not relinquish.

"I'm so excited...TAMURA is a great champion," said KYE afterwards. "I am so lucky." Lucky or not, KYE's days of obscurity are gone forever.

The bronze medals were won by Amarillis SAVON of Cuba and Yolanda SOLER of Spain.

In the men's extra lightweight (60kg) division, the gold medal was won by Tadahiro NOMURA of Japan. Girolamo GIOVANAZZO claimed the silver medal, Italy's second Olympic Judo medal.

NOMURA breezed through his first round match against Leonardo CARCAMO GUTIERREZ of Honduras scoring a bout winning ippon in just 38 seconds. Nikyo OYEGIN (RUS) seemed to have NOMURA in complete control until NOMURA accomplished a reversal to take the lead and held on for the win.

NOMURA gained momentum by winning his next bout, defeating Amar MERIDJA of Algeria to advance to the semifinals. In what some observers called the best match of the day, NOMURA scored the bout-winning ippon with 1:12 remaining over Dorjpalam NARMANDAKH of Mongolia.

Coming back through the repechage rounds to earn the bronze medals were NARMANDAKH (MGL) and Richard TRAUTMANN of Germany.

Today's competition brought the judo segment of the 1996 Olympic Games to a conclusion.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Bill Painter.


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).