Croatian judoka (born 1994)
Barbara Matić (born 3 December 1994) is a Croatian judoka. She won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the women's 70 kg event, and is a two-time world champion (2021, 2022) and a European champion (2024) in the women's 70 kg division. Matić is also a two-time junior world champion (2013, 2014) and a junior European champion (2013).[1] She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics.[2][3]
Career
Matić won her first international title at the 2010 European Cadet Championships in the women's 63 kg event and later competed at the 2010 Youth Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the girls' 63 kg event. She placed second at the 2012 European U23 Championships in the women's 70 kg division. Matić won the 2013 World Juniors Championships in Ljubljana and the 2013 European Junior Championships in Sarajevo, both in the women's 70 kg division. She retained her world championship title at the 2014 World Juniors Championships in Fort Lauerdale, while placing second at the 2014 European Junior Championships in Bucharest and winning her first European Championships medal by finishing third at the 2014 European Championships in Montpellier.
Matić made her Olympic Games debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[4] She won bronze medals at the 2017 European Championships in Warsaw and the 2019 European Games in Minsk. Matić competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, placing fifth in the women's 70 kg event.[4] She won her first World Championship title at the 2021 Championships in Budapest, becoming the first Croatian to win a senior title in judo.[5] Matić successfully defended her title at the 2022 World Championships in Tashkent.[4] In 2023, she won bronze medals at the World Championships in Doha and the European Championships in Montpellier.
Matić won the European Championship title at the 2024 Championships in Zagreb.[4] She won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the women's 70 kg event, becoming the first Croatian to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, in addition to being one of Croatia's flag bearers during the opening ceremony.[6]
Personal life
Matić is the older sister of fellow judoka, Youth Olympic champion and world junior champion Brigita Matić.[7]
References
External links
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- 1992–1996: –66 kg
- 2000–: –70 kg
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1980–97: –66 kg • 1999–present: –70 kg |
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1974–97: –66 kg • 1998–present: –70 kg |
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Yugoslav era
(1952–90) | |
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Since independence
(1991–present) | |
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