Open Class, Men

As in the heavyweight class, the boycott eliminated the Japanese favorites, Sumio Endo and Yasuhiro Yamashita. They had been World Champions in 1979 in the open and heavyweight classes, respectively, and the only decision in 1980 would have been in which class they elected to compete. Angelo Parisi (FRA) had won the heavyweight division so he was considered the favorite in Japan’s absence. Other contenders were light-heavyweight champion Robert Van de Walle (BEL) and bronze medalist Dietmar Lorenz (GDR). Parisi made it to the final by defeating Soviet Sergey Novikov, using seoi-otoshi for ippon, the same technique that he had used in the heavyweight final. Lorenz won the other pool final, defeating Britain’s Arthur Mapp by waza-ari gazete. The final, which was also the last match of the 1980 judo tournament, was very boring. Both finalists were penalized for passivity and Lorenz won in a desultory style for the gold medal.