Olympics Judo star shows off horror injury as Paris 2024 dream ended in brutal fashion
A JUDO star was left with a horror injury as he was knocked out of the Paris Olympics.
Piotr Kuczera, 29, was eliminated from the Men’s 100kg in the last 16 by Azerbaijan star Zelym Kotsoiev.
The Polish fighter was injured during the bout as he was left with a nasty cut above his right eye.
Pictures showed Kuczera with blood around his eye as he lifted himself off the mat.
He was unable to recover from the blow and was eventually beaten by Kotsoiev in the bout.
The world No28 had gone into the fight as a big underdog as Kotsoiev is ranked No1.
The fight lasted two minutes as his opponent threw him to the ground and held him on the ground for ten seconds.
The long hold meant it would be the end of Kuczera’s Olympic dreams as he was defeated.
The exit in the round also means that he would not qualify for the Repechage bouts.
He had beaten Chilean fighter Thomas Briceno in the last 32.
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Elsewhere in the Judo, Team GB‘s Emma Reid’s hopes of a medal were left in tatters.
The 29-year-old was beaten by South Korea’s Yoon Hyun-ji in the first round.
She was disqualified from the bout, having picked up three penalties during the -78kg event.
Reid broke down in tears when speaking to the BBC as she spoke about Team GB’s struggles in the discipline.
She said: “I think we had a really good preparation.
“We were at home, we went away for a camp. I just think it’s tough – especially when a few of us, it’s our first Games.
“We’re not seeded so you can get anyone first fight.
“I’ve beaten her (Yoon) before, so it’s frustrating that I could have got to the next round, but I think we all felt good going into it.
“Sometimes it doesn’t happen on the day.
“I’ll reflect on the competition… I’m just upset I couldn’t make a better day of it.”