Sabrina Filzmosers last European Championships end in the shadow

Two veterans battled each-other in the second round of the European Championships U57kg. Telma Monteiro vs Sabrina Filzmoser. For the 40 year old Sabrina Filzmoser it was her second contest at this Championship in Lisbon. For Monteiro her first match as she had a bye in the first round as seeded player. After a record 24 European Championships she waved goodbye to the European judo fans. Not voluntarily but forced due to the victory of Monteiro.

The Austrian icon will try to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo and realise that ultimate dream of winning an Olympic medal.

In her career she has won 9 European medals, her first in 2003 in Düsseldorf and her last in 2014 in Montpellier. At World level she claimed bronze medals in 2005 and 2010. She can qualify for her fourth Olympic Games where she debuted in 2008 in Beijing with a first round. In 2012 in London she reached the final block but finished seventh and in 2016 she wasn’t successful either.

We all thought she’d quit years ago, she continued to battle and come back from serious injuries. The Olympic Games were even postponed and maybe she even liked it a bit as you must be hooked to this game competing internationally for over 25 years. She has got more records in JudoInside than any other Austrian athlete and who knows it’s possible to become the oldest ever medallist ever at the games. Realistically today was her last chance on a medal.