On Friday, Rousey came one step closer when she won the gold medal in the Pan American Games in the 70kg division, marking her third international medal (and second gold) in as many tries after moving up from 63kg in February. 

In front of a boisterous hometown crowd, Rousey fought Brazilian Mayra Silva in the gold medal match after winning her three preliminary rounds all by ippon (instant win).

Rousey was up by a yuko (quarter-point) when she received a penalty late in the match that gave Silva a koka (smallest points) score.  Rousey continued to attack as the clock wore down and threw Silva for ippon with an uchimata (inner thigh throw) with 16 seconds left in the match. 

Taking the mat in the second medal match of the day, it was the home crowd’s first chance to see a Brazilian fight for gold in a day that included three members of the Brazilian team competing in gold medal matches and a fourth fighting for bronze.

“Walking up there, the crowd was a little intimidating, but by the time I bowed in I was fine and didn’t let it effect me while I was out there,” Rousey said.  “Honestly, I’d be upset if no one booed or cheered because that would mean they really don’t care at all.”

Although this is Rousey’s first Pan Am Games, at 20-years-old she is a veteran of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team and the 2005 World Team.

“It feels really good to have won.  The atmosphere is so similar to the Olympics that it’s good to get a small taste of that,” Rousey said.  “Ever since I was a little girl, the Olympics have always been my #1 priority and this put me that much closer to my goal.”

Rousey will return with her most of her Pan Am Games Teammates to Rio from Sept. 13-16 to compete in the World Championships.  

“I’m still new to the division, but I think I can surprise some people,” she said.

Rick Hawn ( Wakefield , Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) also is a veteran of the 2004 Olympic Team who was competing in his first Pan Am Games, winning bronze after moving up in March from 81kg to 90kg.

After winning his first match against Javier Terra (URU), Hawn advanced to the semifinals, where he lost to eventual champion Tiago Camilo (BRA).

In the bronze medal match, Hawn threw Julian Gutierrez (MEX) for a waza-ari (half-point) score before pinning him for ippon.

“I felt very confident going into my match with Mexico .  I fought him at the Pan Am Team Championships and beat him there, so I knew his style and was ready for whatever he had…  And I finished with a pin, so Coach Pedro should be happy,” Hawn laughed in reference to the personal coach of both himself and Rousey, former World Champion Jimmy Pedro.

Team FORCE member Asma Sharif also fought well in her first international event as a heavyweight since moving up from 78kg.

Sharif drew Ivis Duenas (CUB), a 14-time World Cup medalist, in the opening round.  Down by a penalty, Sharif fought well before getting choked for ippon.

In the repechage, Sharif fought Priscilla Marques (BRA) who won a silver medal earlier this season at the Hamburg Super World Cup.  Sharif again found herself down by a penalty and was thrown with a tai otoshi (body drop throw) for ippon in front of a boisterous Brazilian crowd.

“I was happy to get a chance to have this event in Rio, particularly with the Worlds being here in September.  The crowd’s so energetic and electric that it was a great experience…it was great to feel that level of energy,” Sharif said.

Although many people would have hoped for a less difficult pair of fights, Sharif seemed to welcome the challenge.

“I was very happy with my draw because I fought the toughest player in the first round.  I came here for hard fights and I got two quality matches in,” Sharif said. “From this experience fighting two quality players, it really reinforces the idea of gaining strength and working on conditioning because, being the smallest in my division, that’s going to be key.”

Sharif will return to Rio from Sept. 13-16 for the World Judo Championships.

Editorial Credit: Nicole Jomantas (USA Judo)
Reprinted with the permission of USA Judo.
http://www.usjudo.org/2007PanAmGamesDay1Results.asp
http://www.usjudo.org/2007PanAmGamesDay2Results.asp