Chelsie Giles Becomes European Champion

Chelsie Giles claimed her first major title as she added the European crown to her Olympic bronze
medal in Tokyo on the opening day of the European Championships in Sofia.
Following an opening round bye, Giles overcame a tricky opening round contest against Aleksandra
Kaleta (POL). The contest entered Golden Score where Giles unleashed her trademark newaza to
book her place in the Quarter-Finals.
Giles booked her place in the Semi-Finals following a hard fought 8-minute contest against 2x
Olympic medallist Odette Giuffrida (ITA). Giles countering a Giuffrida attack, turning her for waza-ari
score.
If the opening two contests were a battle of endurance, the Semi-Final was all about strength and
power. It took Giles just 90 seconds to defeat Mascha Ballhaus (GER) to secure her place in the Final.
Giles displayed some excellent newaza to progress to the Final Block to face world number one,
Amandine Buchard (FRA).
There was nothing between the two fighters at the end of the mandatory 4-minutes and the contest
entered Golden Score. Two shidos either side of Golden Score put Giles onto the backfoot. An
onslaught of Buchard attacks followed, which Giles defended well before the scorecard was evened
up at 2 shidos each.
Giles adds gold in Sofia to the bronze she won at the European Games in 2019.
A speechless Giles couldn’t quite believe what she had achieved: “I cannot believe it. It’s so
overwhelming, I think it will take a while to fully sink in.”
Giles has faced Buchard on three previous occasions, with the French fighter coming out on top an
all three occasions. Speaking about what she has changed this time, Giles said: “I have spent a lot of
time studying those losses to see what I did well and where I can improve. Jamie and I worked on a
plan and I am so happy it paid off today.”
“I am looking forward to having some time off now and enjoy the moment before the hard work
starts for the remainder of the season.”