Judoka from Olomouc performed the tournament of a lifetime. No tactics, but attacking judo. “Today I wanted to wash, I wanted to throw,” she described the winning tactics that carried her through the championship. “And I believe this is just the beginning of our journey,” she hoped.
Zachová showed that even without three-time European champion Lukáš Krpálek, who missed the championship as planned, Czech judo can be seen a lot. However, the two-time Olympic champion immediately rushed to congratulate him on social networks.
“This is really something! A huge joy, I’m very happy for you, I’m looking forward to continuing in Paris,” he said with a view to the Olympic Games.
Zachová confirms the reputation of a great talent. However, he has the European junior gold and silver in the under-23 category at home. Among the adults, she was still waiting for the precious metal, even though she was already reaching for a medal in Sofia the year before, when she lost the match for bronze.
On Friday, a big success among adults in the category up to 63 kg already came. “The medal will have a place at home on a special wall, a few more will fit there,” she smiled.
On the way to gold, the big names of their category were upset. In the round of 16, she beat the Austrian 2020 European vice-champion Magdalena Krssaková, and in the semi-finals, she beat Slovenia’s Andreja Leškiová, the two-time world vice-champion and defending champion of the gold.
She had a certain medal, the first for Czech women’s judo in 20 years since Michaela Vernerová. But that wasn’t enough for Zach. “I thought to myself that the day is so good, it’s not over for me, I’ve got it and I want the gold,” she described her setup before the fight with the Dutch Joanne van Lieshout. The Czech Republic lost the last match between them.
“We know each other well, we also fought before Europe at the training camp in Tata, we are very balanced,” she explained. And the favorite took the lead after the seoi-otoshi technique. “I told myself that I have nothing to lose. Either I lose on wazari or ippon, or I try something and instead I throw her,” she described.
Fortunately, the second option was valid. “I know it shouldn’t be said, but I wanted to enjoy it, I wanted to do nice judo, I probably didn’t always succeed, but it’s good, so I can’t complain,” said the European champion with a smile.
“I am very happy for all the people around me who help me and support me, for that I am very grateful,” added coach Jiří Štěpán’s ward.
Tags: fiftyyear wait golden Czech excited wanted wash reported
