Azerbaijan is the only country with two Olympic champions in judo at 73 kg.
This became official after the third day of the Paris 2024 competition, as Idman.biz reports.
Hidayat Heydarov, who defeated all his opponents, stepped on the highest step of the podium. He repeated the victory of Elnur Mammadli, who achieved the same success in Beijing 16 years ago.
A weight rate of 73 kg applies from Sydney 2000. Until that time, lightweight was considered different - 71 kg.
Starting from Australia, there was 73 kg competition in 7 Olympics. Only Japan was happy with two golds like Azerbaijan. However, the same athlete - Shohei Ono - signed both successes for Japan.
Azerbaijan is ahead of other countries by championing two different judokas. This number could even be 3. Shohei Ono beat our compatriot in the final in Rio 2016. At that time, Rustam Orujov was crowned with silver.
73 kg Olympic Champions
Sydney 2000: Giuseppe Maddaloni (Italy)
Athens 2004: Lee Won-jee (South Korea)
Beijing 2008: Elnur Mammadli (Azerbaijan)
London 2012: Mansur Isayev (Russia )
Rio 2016: Shohei Ono ( Japan)
Tokyo 2020: Shohei Ono (Japan)
Paris 2024: Hidayat Heydarov (Azerbaijan)
Vugar Kheyrullayev
Idman.biz
