Not selected for the Games, Frenchwoman Audrey Tcheuméo (-78 kg) crowned European champion for the fifth time

Elle remporte son cinquième titre de championne d’Europe après 2011, 2014, 2016 et 2017. MAXPPP – Thierry Larret

Frenchwoman Audrey Tcheuméo was crowned European judo champion for the fifth time in her career in the – 78 kg, Saturday in Zagreb.

Tcheuméo, 34, managed to overcome her disappointment at not having been selected for the Paris Olympic Games in three months, to win in the final against the German Anna- Maria Wagner, world No.3.

To reach the final, Tcheuméo started his day by dispatching, in 23 seconds, the Russian under neutral banner Nadezhhda Tatarchenko, before dominating the German Alina Boehm, double title holder who ;rsquo;had been beaten a few weeks ago.

World number 1 dismissed in semi-final

In the semi-final, it was quite a client in the person of the Israeli Inbar Lanir, world No.1 and reigning world champion, who stood up in front of her.

But the Frenchwoman showed herself to be extremely solid and dominated her opponent physically and technically to reach the final.

Despite this fifth continental title, Tcheuméo will not participate in the Paris Olympics this summer, the Federation having preferred Madeleine Malonga, Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo and current 5th in the world.