Judo: Brilliant Karina Bryant wins bronze for Team GB in women's over-78kgs

August 3, 2012: Mika Sugimoto of Japan (white) and Karina Bryant of Great Britain compete in the Women's +78 kg Judo semi-final (GETTY IMAGES)

Veteran British judo heavyweight Karina Bryant finally claimed an Olympic medal with victory in the bronze fight against Iryna Kindzerska of Ukraine at ExCeL.

North Arena 2 was again in full voice all day, having roared Greenwich fighter Gemma Gibbons on to silver 24 hours before, which finally ended the host nation's 12-year quest for Olympic success.

The 32-year-old - four-time European Champion and five-time world silver medallist - battled through to the semi-finals, having put out third-seeded Slovenian Lucija Polavder, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, along the way.

However, Japan's Mika Sugimoto, the fourth seeded 2010 world champion, proved a test too far and she had to lift herself for the bronze contest.

The home supporters got behind the Camberley fighter, competing in her fourth and probably final Games, but she was soon behind to a Waz-ari throw and hold.

Bryant dug deep and levelled with a Waz-ari score of her own midway through the five-minute bout.

A Yuko from the big Ukrainian then edged her 11-10 ahead, but the Briton was not to be denied as she dropped Kindzerska over for another Waz-ari to claim victory - sending the North Arena 2 into bedlam once again.

In the other semi-final, defending Olympic champion Wen Tong of China was beaten by Cuba's Idalys Ortiz.

Favourite Teddy Riner of France, five-time world champion, marched into the men's over-100kg final, where he will take on Russian Alexander Mikhaylin, the current European Champion, who had beaten Team GB's Royal Marine Chris Sherrington earlier in the competition.

PA