'An Baul's Extended Fighting Spirit' Korea Judo Mixed Team Wins First Ever Bronze Medal [Paris Olympics]

First Medal Ever Won in Mixed Team Event

It was the first bronze medal forged through fighting spirit until overtime.

An Baul, Fierce Judo Gi Gripping Battle [Image Source=Yonhap News]

The Korean judo team, consisting of An Baul (Namyangju City Hall), Kim Min-jong (Yangpyeong County Office), Lee Jun-hwan (Yongin University), Heo Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council), Kim Ji-soo (Gyeongbuk Sports Council), and Kim Ha-yoon (Ansan City Hall), faced Germany in the repechage round of the mixed team judo event at the 2024 Paris Olympics held on the 4th at the Champ de Mars arena in Paris, France. After a fierce battle that went to golden score, they won 4-3 and secured the bronze medal.

Korea was eliminated early in the mixed team judo event, which was first introduced at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), but this time they managed to win the bronze medal. The mixed team judo event features six competitors: three men (73kg, 90kg, and over 90kg categories) and three women (57kg, 70kg, and over 70kg categories). In the bronze medal match, the order of participation was Lee Jun-hwan, Kim Ha-yoon, Kim Min-jong, Heo Mi-mi, An Baul, and Kim Ji-soo.

Korea defeated Turkey 4-1 in the round of 16. However, they narrowly lost 1-4 to France, the Tokyo Olympic champions, in the quarterfinals. In the following repechage, they beat Uzbekistan 4-2 to advance to the bronze medal match.

In the bronze medal match, they faced Germany. In the first match, Lee Jun-hwan, competing in the men's 90kg category, fought hard against the heavier Eduard Tripel but lost by waza-ari due to an an-?goshi throw. In the second match, Kim Ha-yoon sought revenge. In the women's 70kg category, she defeated her opponent, Rene Lucht, with a side control ippon in just 51 seconds, leveling the score.

The third match also saw a decisive victory as Kim Min-jong in the men's 90kg category scored an ippon with a seoi-nage throw. Heo Mi-mi in the women's 57kg category then showcased overwhelming performance by winning with a waza-ari from a uchi-mata throw against Pauline Starke in 1 minute and 25 seconds. However, An Baul, competing in the men's 73kg category, struggled against the heavier Igor Vantke. Since An Baul is a 66kg class athlete, Vantke was effectively a competitor from a higher weight class.

Entering overtime (golden score), An Baul fought for 9 minutes and 38 seconds. Despite his resilience, he conceded a waza-ari from a sacrifice throw at 5 minutes and 38 seconds into overtime and narrowly lost the match. With the score at 3-2, Kim Ji-soo in the women's 70kg category faced Miriam Butkereit, the silver medalist in the individual event of this weight class, and was defeated by ippon with a throw in just 35 seconds.

With the score tied at 3-3, a rematch was held. In the event of a tie, one of the six weight categories is randomly drawn to determine which category will compete again. The rematch is conducted under golden score rules, and the match ends immediately upon the first score.

The men's 73kg category was drawn, and An Baul stepped back onto the mat. Although he had lost to Igor Vantke earlier, An Baul did not give up. After a fierce 5 minutes and 25 seconds battle, he earned Vantke's third penalty, securing the bronze medal for Korea.

Although An Baul was eliminated in the men's 66kg round of 16, he demonstrated fighting spirit and succeeded in winning a bronze medal in his third and final Olympics. Following a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games, he earned his third consecutive Olympic medal.

Korean judo concluded this tournament with two silver medals and three bronze medals.