Paris, France — Gabriella Willems, the 27-year-old Belgian judoka, secured her first international medal by winning bronze in the under 70kg category at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Willems triumphed over the Netherlands’ Sanne van Dijke, ranked fifth in the world, to claim third place at the Arena Champ-de-Mars.
In an impressive journey to the podium, Willems showcased her skill and determination. She defeated Maria Perez from Puerto Rico and Elisavet Teltsidou from Greece, utilizing her technical prowess in ground game techniques.
However, her progress was momentarily halted in the quarter-finals by Germany’s Miriam Butkereit. Butkereit, who went on to win silver, lost the final to Croatia’s Barbara Matic, who clinched the gold medal.
Following a brief two-hour break, Willems returned to the mat for the crucial ‘Repechage’ match against Parisian Marie Eve Gahié. Gahié, ranked seventh in the world and a vice-world champion, was competing on home soil in front of over 8,000 spectators.
The match ended dramatically after just 40 seconds when Willems executed a decisive armlock, silencing the fervent home crowd.
“I managed to focus again because the idea of facing a French competitor here appeared challenging,” Willems said.
“I had suffered many defeats against her. I knew she would target my surgically repaired knee. The strategy was not to let her gain dominance and put her on the ground.”
Willems, ranked 21st in the world, then faced Sanne van Dijke, a bronze medalist in Tokyo and the 2023 world champion. In an unprecedented victory, Willems overcame van Dijke to secure the bronze medal, marking a significant milestone in her career.
“That’s judo and that’s the Olympics. There have been numerous surprises here, and today I was the surprise,” Willems remarked before accepting her medal.
Originally from Liège, Willems’ achievement is particularly remarkable given the difficult three-year period she endured. Injuries and two knee ligament surgeries caused her to miss the Tokyo Games in 2021, making her Paris 2024 success even more poignant.
“Her resilience is astonishing,” said her coach, Cédric Taymans. “I have never experienced such emotions,” admitted Willems.
This win adds a third medal to Belgium’s tally at the Paris Olympics, following Remco Evenepoel’s gold and Wout van Aert’s bronze in the time trial road cycling event.
Willems’ bronze also marks the 14th Olympic medal in judo for Belgium, further cementing the country’s presence in the sport.
The bronze medal win was met with widespread celebration in Belgium. Social media was abuzz with messages of congratulations and admiration for Willems’ determination and perseverance.
Her journey from injury setbacks to Olympic success has inspired many, and her achievement is seen as a testament to the strength and resilience of athletes.
As Willems stood on the podium, her joy and pride were evident. The Belgian national anthem played, and the country’s flag was hoisted, symbolizing the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and overcoming adversity.
Gabriella Willems’ story is one of triumph against the odds. Her performance at the Paris Olympics has not only earned her a place among the elite judokas of the world but also inspired a new generation of athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles.
