Automne Pavia captures golden points for Rio

French Automne Pavia captured her third European title in Kazan. In the final she was able to beat Ivelina Ilieva of Bulgaria in the final. In the semi final she bested Helene Receveaux this time. Both Pavia and Receveaux are in a tremendous fight for one ticket to Rio. Pavia was even unseeded in Kazan.

In the final Pavia led after 20 second when she launched an uchimata which was blocked but a second attempt delivered a yuko. From that moment Pavia could counter and with her reach she could hold off and even Ilieva received penalties for impassivity and couldn’t find the opportunity to outsmart the experienced Pavia in the remaining minutes. Now it is Pavia who’s in the lead for the Rio ticket with another 500 points, as last year was only fifth in Baku. Now she regained the title of 2014. In 2013 she won her first European title. Pavia had beaten Ilieva three times before, including her victory at the European Championships in 2014 in Montpellier.

Pavia won her four fight and started with victories against Maria Centracchio (ITA) and Miryam Roper (GER) with a splendid ippon in a classic match. In the semi final Pavia defeated Receveaux in the last minute.

This Olympic cycle European Champions

2016      Automne Pavia (FRA)

2015      Telma Monteiro (POR)

2014      Automne Pavia (FRA)

2013      Automne Pavia (FRA)

2012      Telma Monteiro (POR)

Short Profile

Automne Pavia is 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and bronze at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships. The French judoka won three European titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Pavia won 5 European medals in a row 2012-2016. She is engaged to Ashley McKenzie who wasn’t too lucky himself today but still there is joy in the forthcoming family.