Yeldos Smetov Wins First Gold for Kazakhstan at Paris Olympics
Kazakh judoka Yeldos Smetov has secured the first gold medal for Kazakhstan at the Paris Olympics, triumphing in the 60-kilogram weight category. In the final, he defeated Luka Mkheidze, the bronze medalist from the 2020 Games, who was representing France, the host country of the current Olympics.
On Saturday, July 27, Smetov’s victory marked a significant achievement for Kazakhstan, as he overcame Mkheidze to claim gold. This win adds to Smetov’s impressive Olympic record, completing his collection of medals. He previously won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
In the semi-finals, Smetov defeated Francisco Garrigos of Spain, the 2023 World Champion. Garrigos went on to win bronze, earning Spain its first judo medal in 24 years. Japanese judoka Ryuju Nagayama, a world championship medalist, also claimed a bronze medal.
Earlier in the tournament, Smetov showcased his skill by defeating Tornike Tsjakadoea from the Netherlands, Dilshot Khalmatov from Ukraine, and Yang Yung-wei from Taiwan.
