French judoka Amandine Buchard put Team LGBTQ onto the medal table for the first time at the Paris Olympic Games Sunday, securing the bronze medal in the -52kg category in a marathon match against Hungarian Reka Pupp.
Buchard, who came into the Paris Games as a medal favorite having won silver in Tokyo three years prior, weathered a storm of attacks from the fresher Pupp while peppering in her fair share of offensive maneuvers.
She nearly ended the match during regulation with a choke but the contest went the full four minutes, necessitating a sudden death golden score period.
After more than three minutes in golden score, Buchard was able to secure the medal-winning takedown and immediately fell to her knees in tears.
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An eruption of joy from the hometown crowd soundtracked the Paris native’s burst of emotion. Buchard went into the crowd to celebrate with her family and friends after leaving the mat, receiving kisses, hugs and words of congratulation from supporters.
Buchard’s bronze is the first earned by an out LGBTQ Olympian at the Paris Games. It feels appropriate that she would have that honor, considering her achievement was happening mere miles from where she grew up.
It also felt sweet considering her path to the medal round. Several of Buchard’s matches went long, putting considerable wear on her body compared to her bronze medal match opponent.
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First out gay Olympian to win medal in Paris cries in her moment of triumph
Amandine Buchard defeated Hungary’s Reka Pupp in a marathon match to win -52kg judo Olympic bronze in front of a hometown crowd.
By Brian C. Bell | July 28, 2024
Her semifinal loss to eventual gold medal winner Diyora Keldiyorova was a hard pill to swallow considering Buchard’s gold medal aims, but the French sensation wouldn’t be denied her moment among a flock of fellow Parisians.
The 29-year-old will be back in action at the Grand Palais on Saturday, as one of the judokas defending the hosts’ mixed team title from Tokyo.
