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Lucija Polavder from Slovenia has claimed her first European championship title in judo in Vienna. In the women’s heavyweight category +78kg Lucija won in the final against Tea Donguzashvili who lost her seventh European final. By far the youngest and lightest of all competitors in her class, Polavder (25) is always determined to win, a dedication she manifested with four ippons on Saturday. She won all her fights in less than 5 minutes. Polavder received the gold medal from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Lucija's 1st match was against Ukraine's Svitlana Jaromla, 2nd against Lucia Tangorre of Italy. In the semi final Polavder faced an old rival in Karina Bryant. Bryant secured her last European medal by beating the Slovenian in the 2005 +78kg final. This time, the Slovenian dominated the fight and it ended with a disqualification for Bryant having received three penalties.

After four bronze medals, this is the fifth medal for Polavder at European Championships.