Canadian Isabelle Harris wins judo bronze at the European Open in Prague

Isabelle Harris of Abbotsford, B.C., won a bronze medal at the European Open Judo competition on Saturday.

The 23-year-old scored an ippon, or full point, against Italy’s Antonietta Palumbo in a women’s 63-kilogram marathon that went more than six minutes into overtime.

Harris was also a bronze medalist at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Her teammate Yanis Hachemi of Repentigny, Que., lost to Niels Thijssen of the Netherlands in his men’s 73-kg bronze medal bout. The Canadian lost his sixth game of the day via ippon in overtime.

During the women’s bronze bout, Harris and Palumbo each received two penalties, and a third on either side would have ended the game.

“Both had good chances to throw the other,” Bouchard said. “Isabelle managed to counter one of them [her opponent’s] attacks and she scored a big ippon. There was a lot at stake in this fight.

“She achieved some great results last year, particularly at the Pan American Games. And it’s important to note that she had to miss almost two months last summer due to injury and only started training again just under a month ago.”