Patrícia Sampaio stood tall, her bronze medal from the World Championships in Budapest a testament to her unwavering dedication. The 25-year-old judoka had just defeated China’s Zhenzhao Ma, ranked sixth in the world, by hansoku make – a win by default after her opponent accumulated three penalties. This victory marked a triumphant moment for Sampaio, who had also clinched bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics and gold at the European Championships just two months prior.
Sampaio’s journey to the podium was nothing short of impressive. As the top seed in Hungary, she had navigated the tournament with ease, defeating her opponents with yuko wins. Her path to the semifinals was paved with victories over Croatia’s Petrunjela Pavic, South Korea’s Minju Kim, and Brazil’s Karol Gimenes. The latter match had required a golden set to secure her advancement. Though she ultimately fell to Germany’s Anna Monta Olek in the semifinals, Sampaio’s resolve remained unshaken.
The loss to Olek had been a tough pill to swallow, but Sampaio refused to let it define her tournament. Instead, she channeled her energy into the bronze medal match, determined to claim her spot on the podium. With her win, she became the ninth Portuguese athlete to achieve this feat. Notably, Sampaio was the only member of the national team to return home with a medal, a testament to her remarkable skill and perseverance. Her name would now be etched in the annals of judo history, a shining example of what it means to push beyond adversity and emerge victorious.