Hifumi Abe Triumphs in Judo While Sister Uta Faces Upset at Paris Olympics

At the Champ-de-Mars Arena during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Hifumi Abe celebrated after decisively defeating Brazilian judoka Willian Lima in the men's 66 kg final, earning his second gold medal. Amidst the jubilation, he shared a poignant moment with his sister Uta, who was visibly upset in the stands after her recent loss in the women's competition.

The Abe siblings aimed to achieve a historic double gold for Japan on the same day during these Olympics, following their success in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Uta, a four-time world champion, was unexpectedly defeated by Uzbekistan's Diyora Keldiyorova during her second bout, leaving the siblings to grapple with the disappointment of missed opportunities.

Despite the emotional turmoil of his sister’s defeat, Hifumi directed his focus toward supporting her spirit, stating that he felt compelled to succeed for her. He expressed the difficulty of managing his emotions, recognizing the weight of their dreams as siblings in judo.

Hifumi's path to gold was marked by notable matches, including a swift victory over Hungary's Bence Pongracz in just 59 seconds. He battled through adversity, sustaining a bloody nose in earlier rounds, and secured his spot in the semifinals after defeating Nurali Emomali from Tajikistan. His hardest challenge came against top-ranked Denis Vieru from Moldova, whom he overcame in a tense match that went into a golden score.

In the final, Hifumi gradually outmaneuvered Lima. He scored a waza-ari that helped him dominate the match, ultimately concluding it with an impressive throw.

The overall performance of Japan's judo team has so far yielded two gold medals out of four events, which could be seen as underwhelming compared to their previous haul of nine golds during the Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, Uta's emotional struggle was palpable as she processed her unexpected defeat following an extended streak of victories.

Keldiyorova's victory was significant, as she went on to compete against other formidable opponents in her pursuit of the gold, cementing her success. Looking ahead, both Hifumi and Uta Abe expressed their intentions to continue competing, setting their sights on future Olympic glory at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Hifumi vowed to enhance his skills further in the sport of judo, aiming to maintain the family's legacy in the martial discipline.