Harris fr om Abbotsford, British Columbia, claimed a bronze medal at the European Open judo tournament on SatuIsabellerday. Competing in the women’s 63-kilogram category, the 23-year-old secured her victory by scoring an ippon, or full point, against Italy’s Antonietta Palumbo. The bout was a marathon, lasting over six minutes into overtime. Harris’s performance in this competition adds to her growing list of achievements, including a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
In her bronze medal match against Palumbo, both athletes received two penalties each, meaning a third penalty for either could have ended the contest prematurely. However, the match continued with each fighter having opportunities to throw the other. According to Canadian coach Antoine Bouchard, Harris managed to counter one of Palumbo’s attacks successfully, leading to her decisive ippon score. Bouchard praised Harris’s resilience and determination, emphasizing the high stakes involved in the fight.
Bouchard also highlighted Harris’s impressive recent performances. Over the past year, she has achieved strong results, most notably at the Pan American Games. What makes her latest accomplishment even more remarkable is that Harris had been sidelined for nearly two months due to injury. She only resumed training about a month before the European Open, making her bronze-medal victory even more significant.
Harris wasn’t the only Canadian judoka competing at the European Open. Her teammate, Yanis Hachemi from Repentigny, Quebec, also fought for a bronze medal in the men’s 73-kilogram division. Hachemi’s bout against the Netherlands’ Niels Thijssen was also a tightly contested match that went into overtime. Unfortunately, Hachemi lost by ippon in what was his sixth match of the day.
Coach Bouchard noted that both bronze-medal finals were extremely close, but Harris’s match was particularly intense. He commended her performance, stating that she managed to secure the victory in a very tight and competitive contest.
Harris’s bronze medal at the European Open adds to her growing reputation in international judo, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure and come back strong after recovering from injury. Her continued success on the mat, despite recent setbacks, highlights her potential for future accomplishments in the sport. Meanwhile, Hachemi’s strong showing, despite his loss, also indicates his capability to compete at a high level in international tournaments. Both athletes’ performances signal a bright future for Canadian judo on the global stage.
