Ukrainian Judoka Daria Bilodid Clinches Gold at European Championships in Croatia
Darya Bilodid, a 23-year-old judoka from Ukraine, won gold in the continental championship in the weight category up to 57 kg at the European Judo Championships, which took place in Zagreb, Croatia, on 25-28 April.
Thus, the Ukrainian national judo team won its first medal at the 2024 European Championships, which started in Zagreb, Croatia, the Ukrainian Judo Federation reported.
On the way to the final, 23-year-old Ukrainian Daria Bilodid defeated Finland's Pihla Salonen, Azerbaijan's Atseliya Toprak, Israel's Timna Nelson-Levy and Georgia's Eteri Lipertaliani.
In the decisive fight, Daria faced Slovenia's Kaja Kaiser, who is the 2021 European Vice-Champion. Just like three years ago, the Slovenian had to settle for a silver medal, as Bilodid managed to snatch the victory.
For the 23-year-old Ukrainian, this is her first gold medal at the European and World Championships after changing her weight category. Until 2022, she competed in the 48 kg weight class, where she won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Daria became the European champion for the third time - in 2017 and 2019, she won gold at the continental championship in the 48 kg weight category. In this weight, the Ukrainian became a silver medallist at Euro 2021.
European Championships in Croatia. Source: ukrainejudo.com