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Bischof wins silver

July 31, 2012

German Ole Bischof won a silver medal in Judo Tuesday, competing in the 81-kilogram weight class. It was his second medal after winning gold in 2008. Kim Jae-Bum of South Korea defeated him to win gold.

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Germany's Ole Bischof celebrates after defeating Italy's Antonio Ciano (blue) in their men's -81kg elimination round of 32 judo match, at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 31, 2012.
Image: Reuters

Judoka Ole Bischof failed to defend his gold medal after losing 2-0 to Kim Jae-Bum of South Korea in the final match of the 81-kilogram weight class on Tuesday. The German settled with a silver medal instead. It was a rematch of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where Bischof won gold when he defeated Kim in the final.

The 27-year-old Korean entered the tournament with momentum, having won gold at the last two World Championships.

Bischof, 32, advanced to the final after defeating American Travis Stevens earlier in the day on a joint referee-judges decisions after being tied at the end of the Golden Score - a sudden death period where the first to score ins. w

The match had to be stopped twice so that medical personnel could treat Stevens' bleeding wounds.

"I'm happy about silver, but the semifinal took a lot out of me," Bischof said of his long match against Stevens. "[Kim] earned it in the final, he was faster. I'm happy for him."

Bischof's last major tournament medal came in the 2011 European Championships in Istanbul, where he won bronze. He also won bronze at the 2009 World Championship in Rotterdam.

Russian Ivan Nifontov defeated Japan's Takahiro Nakai in the first third place match to win one of two bronze medals that are awarded in Judo. Canadian Antoine Valois-Fortier beat Stevens to claim the second bronze medal.

Author: David Raish
Editor: Matt Zuvela