Zeddy Cherotich Falls to Patricia Sampaio in Women’s -78 kg Judo Elimination Round

On August 1, 2024, the Women’s -78 kg Elimination Round of 32 took place at the Champ-de-Mars Arena during the Paris 2024 Olympics. In a highly anticipated matchup, Kenya's Zeddy Cherotich went against Portugal’s Patricia Sampaio. The contest was fierce, with both athletes showcasing their skills in judo. Cherotich, weighing in at 77.9 kg and ranked 74th worldwide, was looking to advance after securing a 7th place finish at the African Senior Championships Individuals in 2023. However, Sampaio, who weighed 77.7 kg and held a higher world ranking of 13th, had other plans.

The match began with both competitors displaying strong techniques, but it was Sampaio who quickly gained the upper hand. With a series of decisive moves, Sampaio was able to secure a Waza-ari at just 9 seconds into the match and followed it up with another Waza-ari at the 20-second mark. Ultimately, Cherotich was unable to score against Sampaio, leading to a final score of 10-0 in favor of the Portuguese athlete. The match ended with Sampaio advancing to the next round, while Cherotich was eliminated from the competition.

With this victory, Patricia Sampaio moved on to the next phase of the tournament, showcasing her strength and skill as a serious contender for the gold medal in judo. The elimination round was a thrilling start to the judo competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, leaving spectators eager for more action from these talented athletes.