Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Rich Jones

Tokyo Olympics: Team GB wins first medal after Chelsie Giles takes bronze in judo

Team GB have their first medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after Chelsie Giles won bronze in the 52k judo category.

The 24-year-old defeated Switzerland's Fabienne Kocher to claim Great Britain's first medal.

Giles was beaten in the quarter-finals by Japan's Uta Abe but was handed a chance at the bronze in the Repechage.

And she defeated Belgium's Charline Van Snick to reach the bronze medal bout before coming away with victory.

Chelsie Giles won Team GB's first medal of Tokyo 2020 (AFP via Getty Images)

Coventry-born Giles went into the Olympics as the world No.10 and returned to the scene of the 2019 World Championship, where she finished 7th.

Prior to the Olympics, she told the Coventry Telegraph: “We competed at the venue at the World Championships in 2019, so to go back to a place with such an amazing atmosphere is really exciting.

“It’s our first Olympics but we want a medal of course – I wouldn’t go to an event and not want to pick up a medal.

“The Olympics only comes round every four years, which makes it even bigger because you don’t get many chances.”

Giles was left gobsmacked after claiming Team GB's first medal (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

She started judo at her local club by following her brother.

"I started at Coventry Judo Club, where I just used to go and watch my brother do judo.

"One day they asked me to come on and join in – and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Bradly Sinden will hope to add a first gold this afternoon after reaching the final of the men's taekwondo to guarantee himself at least a silver medal.

Giles beat Charlie van Snick of Team Belgium to reach the bronze medal bout (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Sinden beat China's Zhao Shuai in the semi-finals to set up a gold medal bout with Uzbekistan's Ulugbek Rashitov at around 13:45 UK time.

Team GB's Olympics had got off to a slow start before Giles and Sinton's success.

Two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones was a surprise early elimination in the women's 57kg judo.

Jones was beaten by Kimia Alizadeh of the Refugee Olympic Team in her opening contest.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.