Tokyo 2021: Steven Da Costa, the "little prince of karate" in gold
Alexander NEMENOV AFP
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 min
The French Steven Da Costa made history in his sport by becoming the first Olympic karate champion this Thursday, August 5 in Tokyo.
Karate will not be at the Paris Games in 2024, replaced by
breakdance
.
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Incorporated for the first time in its history into the Olympic program, the discipline is not on the menu of the Paris 2024 Games. At first disappointed, Steven Da Costa fully intended to take full advantage of it.
This enchanted break from Tokyo allowed him to mark the history of his sport and obtain the most beautiful medals, he who had been crowned world champion in 2018.
“
The weight on my shoulders, I ignore it, because at the beginning, it is still my dream and my goals.
I do it for myself and no one else,
”he told RFI recently.
We can imagine the joy of the family clan, where karate is a passion, which he shares with his parents and brothers, who also practice this martial art.
"
I don't realize
"
Steven Da Costa first qualified for the semi-finals of the karate tournament, which assured him at least the bronze medal.
But we knew he was much more greedy.
Second in Pool B, Da Costa brilliantly faced the Kazakh Darkhan Assadilov.
In his pool, Da Costa, world number 1 under 67 kg, had first beaten Hamoon Derafshipour, who was fighting under the colors of the refugee team.
He then lost his only fight of the morning, against Jordanian Abdel Rahman Almasatfa.
The French then won his last two fights, first before the limit against Latvian Kalvin Kalnins, then against Venezuelan Andres Madera Delgado.
“
I don't realize.
There has been so much weight on my shoulders for so long.
I have always believed in it.
I said to myself "this
is my day" ”.
We are a magnificent sport and we bring back gold for France
”, reacted the new Olympic champion on France Television.
"The little prince of karate" therefore became the god of Olympus after his victory over the Turkish Eray Samdan in the final.
The receptionist of the RER C in Paris had only one attempt to become Olympic champion, and he knew how to seize his chance.
Here he is wearing the colors of France and the Da Costa family.
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