Karina Bryant will draw on the experience of three previous Olympic Games appearances as she bids for an elusive medal on home soil.
The 33-year-old’s best Games judoka showing was a quarter-final appearance in Athens eight years ago, and she is determined to do better this time around.
Multiple world and European medallist Bryant has been drawn against Algerian Sonia Asselah in the women’s +78kg category and fights in the first round on Friday.
“I haven’t actually fought the girl before but I’ve done my homework on all the players so I am aware of what she does and how good she is,” said Bryant.
“In previous Games I have had people in similar situations where they weren’t at world level and I hadn’t fought them before and I lost, so I have learnt my lesson the hard way.
“If I hadn’t have had that experience before maybe I would have gone with the same mindset and underestimated my opponent. I think I have to take everything I have learnt from other competitions and put it all into my performance.
“If I perform to my ability without a doubt I can get a medal. Everyone knows on the day that I can do it and it’s down to me on Friday to step up to the plate.”
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Paul Smith, Sportsbeat for Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
