When in Rome – Olympic judoka Ben Fletcher on European Open podium
Rio 2016 Olympian Ben Fletcher and University of Bath graduate Gemma Howell both won bronze medals when they competed at European Judo Open events in Italy and Austria.
MJ Church sporting ambassador Fletcher, coached by Juergen Klinger at the Sports Training Village, overcame home favourite Maximilian Hageneder and Italy’s Vincenzo D’Arco to reach the semi-finals of the men’s -100kg division in Rome.
A narrow defeat by a single wazari to Germany’s Johannes Frey meant Fletcher missed out on a place in the final but he responded well to defeat Giuiliano Loporchio of Italy in the bronze-medal contest.
GB’s women were competing in Oberwart, where London 2012 Olympian Howell – who graduated in Sport & Exercise Science last summer – also won bronze with victory over Italy’s Alice Bellandi after coming through the repechage.
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