Matthias Casse missed out on the bronze medal on Tuesday at the Olympic judo tournament in the -81 kg category. Beaten in the quarter-finals and then victorious in the repechage, the Antwerp judoka had made it to the final for the bronze but lost to the Korean Joonhwan Lee au golden score.
After having passed the first two rounds with a golden score but in control, the Belgian judoka found himself opposed to the Japanese Takanori Nagase in the quarter-finals. The reigning Olympic champion – who had already beaten Casse at the same stage of the competition in 2021 – did it again by overcoming the Belgian thanks to a golden score waza-ari.
Sent back to the repechage, Casse did not give up and beat the Canadiens Francois Gauthier Drapeau on a perfectly executed immobilization.
Propelled into the final for bronze against the Korean Joonhwan LeeCasse was surprised when he attempted an attack and therefore had to settle for 5th place.
