Meet the new champions of the European Games! This is what the new heroes of Karate in Europe had to say:
DAMIAN QUINTERO (ESP): IT IS THE REWARD FOR ALL THE HARD WORK
“I have won the three titles in the three editions of the European Games. This means that I was able to maintain consistency all these years and managed to stay on top of the ranking for over a decade! I am very pleased with my performance today. Even though I did not feel all that convinced with my kata in the semi-finals, I was able to perform at a good level in the final. This third gold medal is the reward for all the hard work. “
PAOLA GARCIA LOZANO (ESP): IT IS MY THIRD CONTINENTAL TITLE THIS YEAR
“The tournament has been very difficult, but I am super happy to win this title. It is the third continental crown that I won this year (after the underage Continental Championships and the Senior EKF Championships). The only thing that I can say is that I am very, very happy.”
BETTINA PLANK (AUT): MOMENTS LIKE THIS MAKE EVERYTHING WORTH IT
“This is the European Games, so every match is difficult. Every bout can go one side or the other. I am very happy that I could do it again and win my second gold medal at the European Games. I am pleased that I got to enjoy this moment and to live this feeling. This is the feeling we want to feel, this is what we work so hard for. Sometimes things don’t go our way but moments like this make everything worth it.”
ERAY SAMDAN (TUR): THE KING IS BACK!
“I am very happy for my first European Games title. I worked very hard for this, and I think I deserved it. Xenos is a top-level competitor and a very difficult rival, it was a very close match, but I won. The king is back!”
ANZHELIKA TERLIUGA (UKR): LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR ME
“I took the revenge of the final of the Olympic Games. After losing the final of the Olympic Games, I don’t know how it is possible, but two years later we met in the final again. For me, it was very important to win today. The last few years have been great for me, and I am very happy that I could finish maybe my last European Games with the gold medal.”
TURAL AGHALARZADA (AZE): NO WORDS TO EXPLAIN THIS FEELING
“There are no words to explain what I am feeling right now. The top of our sport in Europe is here and I feel amazing for winning this gold. It is like a dream coming true. I want to thank my family and God for this. The final was very difficult against a competitor who is a very good athlete and who I admire very much.”
The full competition is available by streaming LIVE on europeangames.tv