Harrison wins first judo gold for America

United States’ gold medalist Kayla Harrison reacts on the podium of the women’s -78kg judo contest of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the ExCel arena in London.

LONDON - Kayla Harrison became the first American Olympic judo champion on Thursday as Tagir Khaibulaev won gold in front of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Harrison beat home favourite Gemma Gibbons in the women’s under-78kg final to eclipse the achievement of her coach Jimmy Pedro, a bronze medallist at both the 1996 and 2004 Games.

In so doing, she broke British hearts but Gibbons’s run to the final had been as unexpected as it was celebrated by a raucous home crowd.

Putin’s appearance had been eagerly anticipated alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sat in the VIP area with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Like Putin, Hague has practised judo and both he and the Russian premier were seen explaining the sport’s intricacies to Cameron.

Having the two heads of state in attendance seemed to inspire their athletes, with Russian Khaibulaev going one better than Gibbons.

He won the men’s under-100kg division by beating reigning champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia in the final with a stunning seoi-nage (shoulder throw).

Russia’s Tagir Khaibulaev (L) is congratulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin after he won the men’s -100kg judo contest final match of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the ExCel arena in London. Khaibulaev beat the defending champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia to win the men’s under-100kg Olympic judo title.

That took Russia’s tally to three gold medals in the judo competition and they are set to top the table after Friday’s final heavyweight categories.

Khaibulaev, also the world champion, said it was the Russians’ team spirit that had been behind their success.

“For the past four years we’ve been preparing as a whole team to win as many medals as possible,” he said.

“We prepared consistently and well. We expected to have quite a few medals and we’re pleased with what we’ve done so far but we hope to get another tomorrow.

“I’d like to emphasise that we won several medals because we all prepared as a team and it’s a team effort.

“All our thanks goes to our coaches, we’re very grateful to them.”

It wasn’t a great day for other favourites as world number one Maxim Rakov of Kazakhstan lost in the first round while Japanese third seed Takamasa Anai was beaten in the second round.

German Dimitri Peters came through to win a surprise bronze medal alongside Henk Grol of the Netherlands, the second seed.

The women’s category went more to form, with the exception of Gibbons, the world number 42.

Gibbons only moved up to under-78kg this year, after missing out on selection at under-70kg to Sally Conway, and also had to overcome shoulder surgery this year.

She beat current world champion Audrey Tcheumeo in the semi-final having defeated the 2009 world champion Marhinde Verkerk of the Netherlands in the previous round.

But Harrison proved a bridge too far, although that did not stop an enthusiatic Cameron congratulating Gibbons after the final.

“I didn’t know they (Cameron and Putin) were there,” admitted Gibbons.

“He (Cameron) just shook my hand and said fantastic, well done and that he was really pleased to see me fight.

“The whole day is just a daze but when I look back on it in months or years I will see it as a great moment.”

She admitted she had been spurned on by a partisan home crowd, a factor that concerned Harrison ahead of the final.

“Gemma came out today and she fought fierce. To be honest, I was nervous to be fighting a British fighter with that crowd,” said Harrison.

“But I knew it was my day and I’ve been training my whole life for this, I knew if I would lose, she would have to take it from me.”

Frenchwoman Tcheumeo fought back to take bronze alongside world number one Mayra Aguilar of Brazil.