Heavyweight (>72 kilograms), Women

The heavy favorite was China’s Gao Fenglian, world champion in the class in 1986-87, and also world champion in 1987 in the open class, in which she defeated famed Belgian Ingrid Berghmans in the final. Gao had a bye in the first round into the semi-finals, where she advanced easily by ippon. In the final she faced Dutch judoka Angelique Seriese, who had been bronze medalist in the class at the 1987 World Championship. The final was close but Seriese won in an upset in a scoreless match by yusei-gachi. She would later win the world title in 1995, and compete at the 1996 Olympics, placing tied for 18th.