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PrintMass. woman wins US's first Olympic judo gold
Posted: 08/02/12 at 12:00 pm
Tags: Marblehead Wakefield Kayla Harrison Gold Medal Judo United States London Olympics 2012
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Tags: Marblehead Wakefield Kayla Harrison Gold Medal Judo United States London Olympics 2012
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LONDON (AP) -- A Massachusetts resident has become the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo.
Kayla Harrison took the women's 78-kilogram title Thursday at the London Games by defeating Britain's Gemma Gibbons in a final she dominated from the start. Harrison got a stronger grip on Gibbons and threw her twice.
The 22-year-old Harrison is originally from Ohio but is currently living in Marblehead and training and in Wakefield under former Olympic medalist Jimmy Pedro.
Her medal is the U.S.'s second in judo this week: Teammate Marti Malloy won a bronze in the women's 57-kilogram division.
Harrison is ranked No. 4 in the world and is a former world champion.
She said she was focused on the gold from the start.
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