RIO DE JANEIRO – Toronto’s Kyle Reyes was eliminated from the Rio Olympics judo competition after losing his first match Thursday.
Reyes had a bye in the first round of the 100-kilogram division, but was in a tough situation in the round-of-32, facing two-time bronze medallist Henk Grol of the Netherlands.
The experienced Dutchman applied pressure from the start as Reyes struggled to find his rhythm.
Grol applied a yuko – a technique that involves holding down an opponent for at least 10 seconds – and then scored a match-clinching
ippon at the 2:44 mark.
Reyes, a former world junior champion who lives and trains in Japan, was making his Olympic debut.
The 22-year-old said he was hoping to test a new move that he had been practising in Japan with some success.
“I was going to try it in these Olympics but (he was) too strong and I couldn’t do the move,” he said. “I think I need to put on more strength.”
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