USA Judo’s Nefeli Papadakis falls in first round, but gains valuable Olympic experience at Tokyo 2020ne Olympic Games
by Cecil Bleiker
USA Judo’s Nefeli Papadakis falls in first round, but gains valuable Olympic experience at Tokyo 2020ne Olympic Games
TOKYO, Japan – Competing in her first Olympic Games at the relatively young age of 22, Nefeli Papadakis (Gurnee, Ill./Wolf Judo Club/ College of Lake County/DeVry University) fell to Korea’s Hyunji Yoon by Ippon in round one of the women’s under 78kg division on Thursday, July29, 2021 eliminating her from the competition.
“I’m disappointed as I expected more of myself,” said Papadakis in the Press Mixed Zone immediately following the match. “I’m proud to be here (at the Olympics). From where I started I had a lot of room to grow in order to get here so I’m proud I’m here, but I’m disappointed in how I fought. I have a lot of room to improve and grow. Experience is definitely something I need to gain more of, I do need to fill that gap. My Olympic experience has been good overall. I honored to be here, happy to be here and that I made it. I’m hungry for the next one.”
Nina Cutro-Kelly (Albany, N.Y./Selma, Texas/Universal Judo/ Universite de Rennes - Rennes, France will close out the Tokyo 2020ne Olympics Games for the USA Judo Team tomorrow, Friday, July 30, 2021 in the women’s over 78kg division. Coaching the team are Jhonny Prado (Coral Springs, Fla./ Ki-itsu-sai National Training Site) and Justin Flores (Carlsbad, Calif./Studio 540). Team veterans and now two-time Olympians (2016 and 2020) Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla./Coconut Creek, Fla./Ki-itsu-sai National Training Site/New York Athletic Club/Florida International University/-52kg) and Colton Brown (Piscataway, N.J./Bridgewater, N.J./New York Athletic Club/San Jose State University/+90kg) both won their opening round matches before exiting in the round of 16.
Tokyo 2020 United States Olympic Team - Judo
Women:
-52kg; Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla./Coconut Creek, Fla./Ki-itsu-sai National Training Site/New York Athletic Club/Florida International University) – Round of 16
-78kg; Nefeli Papadakis (Gurnee, Ill./Wolf Judo Club/College of Lake County/DeVry University)
+78kg; Nina Cutro-Kelly (Albany, N.Y./Selma, Texas/Universal Judo/ Universite de Pennes - Pennes, France)
Men:
-90kg; Colton Brown (Piscataway, N.J./Bridgewater, N.J./New York Athletic Club/San Jose State University) – Round of 16
Coaches:
Jhonny Prado (Coral Springs, Fla./ Ki-itsu-sai National Training Site)
Justin Flores (Carlsbad, Calif./Studio 540)
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic judo tournament is taking place July 24-31, 2021 in the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, the host venue of the first ever Olympic Judo competition in 1964. (Judo Olympic Schedule)
For more information, please contact Cecil Bleiker, Team USA Press Officer - Judo at +1-719-330-2062.