Michaela Polleres wins silver at Judo World Championships

Michaela Polleres has won the silver medal in the women's 70 kg category at the Judo World Championships in Baku. The 29-year-old Austrian athlete secured her place in the final after achieving five consecutive victories, defeating Melissa Myers of the USA, Aoife Coughlan of Australia, Lee Yerang of South Korea, Madina Taimasowa of Russia, and Giovanna Scoccimarro of Germany.

The final match against Spain's Ai Tsunoda Roustant went into Golden Score after neither athlete could score a technical point. Polleres ultimately lost the match after receiving her third penalty (shido) during the three-minute and 20-second overtime period.

This silver medal marks Polleres' fifth major international medal, following her Olympic silver in 2021 and bronze in 2024. It is also the first World Championship silver medal for an Austrian judoka since Ludwig Paischer in 2005. The achievement follows her return to competitive judo last December after a 500-day hiatus following the Paris Olympics.