Chelsie Giles values ​​the start of Team GB’s medals at the birth of judo

Chelsie Giles collected Great Britain’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics and later revealed that winning bronze in the country where judo was founded was “extra special”.

The Coventry judoka edged Macedonia’s Arbresha Rexhepi and Morocco’s Soumiya Iraoui in the women’s -52kg category on Sunday before losing at the quarter-final stage to home favorite and eventual gold medalist Uta Abe.

But the repechage gave the 24-year-old an alternative route to a podium place and she made the most of the opportunity, defeating Belgium’s Charline van Snick and then Switzerland’s Fabienne Kocher by Ippon at the Nippon Budokan.

Her Games debut was therefore one to remember for Giles, who claimed her first Grand Slam gold medal in Israel earlier this year and believes the achievement is even more memorable because it took place in Japan.

“It feels very special to do it in Japan,” she said. “It’s an amazing arena, the atmosphere was amazing and to do it where judo started makes it very special.

“I felt really good in the warm-up and took each fight as it came. It went really well, I believed I could do it and my coach always believed I could do it and it showed in the performances.

“I never underestimate any of my fights, I think that’s when mistakes are made, so I go into the fight knowing what they’re doing and knowing what I’m capable of doing.

“At my best I know I can beat some of the best players and my performances showed that.”

It wasn’t the best start to a Games for Team GB, with Yorkshire swimmer Max Litchfield coming close as he finished a dreadful fourth in the men’s 400m individual medley final.

Jade Jones was expected to fire up Great Britain but the Welsh taekwondo star, two-time defending champion in her -57kg category, fell to a shock loss in her opening match against Team Refugee athlete Kimia Alizadeh .

While Giles may not have been tipped by many to claim her nation’s first gong, it wasn’t for lack of skill on her part. Ranked 10th in the world, she showed remarkable composure throughout Sunday.

Most of her family may be stuck in the UK, but she was encouraged by brother and training partner Josh, who spoke to their dad immediately after watching the highlight of his brother’s career so far.

“I think my dad probably cried,” added Giles. “My brother just said ‘well done’. He is proud.

“It’s special because no one else was able to come out, so I was able to have a family member here with me. He’s been a huge support and I’m lucky to have him as a brother.”

Giles Abe’s conqueror beat Italy’s Odette Giuffrida in the semi-final and then France’s top seed Amandine Buchard in the final to take gold, emulating her brother who reigned supreme in the men’s -66kg event on Saturday .

On her only loss, Giles added: “A little mistake cost me the match but I was happy with the rest of the performance. She is a great fighter and well done for the final.”