Pool A: Harrison (USA)
Harrison, who is equally adept at standing and groundwork, won her first match, against Zhang Zehui (CHN) with a pin for ippon. She also used groundwork to beat Abigel Joo (HUN), also pinning her for ippon. The American's strong groundwork capabilities will go on to serve her well in the later rounds as well.
Pool B: Velensek (SLO)
Marhinde Verkerk (NED) was the top seed here but she lost to Yalennis Castillo (CUB) by penalty during an enervating Golden Score period that lasted for nearly seven minutes. That victory by Cuban pitted her against Anamari Velensek (SLO) who likes newaza. Sure enough, Velensek attacked her with a powerful armlock that had the Cuban's arm straightened. The referee called "ippon." Castillo immediately protested that she had not tapped but slow motion replay showed that at one point, she did appear to have tapped on the mat a few times when her arm was outstretched.
Pool C: Tchuemeo (FRA)
Tcheumeo didn't have an easy draw and had to face former World Champion Sol Kyong (PRK) in the first round but Tcheumeo handily threw her with harai-goshi for ippon. That brought her up against Natalie Powell (GBR), also a tough opponent. She wasn't able to throw the Briton and in the end had to rely on penalties for the win.
Pool D: Aguaiar (BRA)
Home favourite Aguiar did really well in her first round match, against Miranda Giambelli (AUS), countering the Australian's footsweep for waza-ari and then pinning her for waza-ari-awasatte-ippon. Her match against Louise Malzahn (GER) was a lot harder and in the end, she managed to get through on a penalty win.
Repecharge
In the first repecharge, Castillo did well to counter Joo's uchimata with a gutsy and well-time yoko-guruma. This was a risky move because if not enough rotation is achieved, the result is usually ippon for the opponent. Castillo scored yuko, which was enough to win her the match. In the other repecharge match, Malzahn's kosoto-gari counter against Powell's hip technique earned her an ippon.
Semi-Final
Velensek is a good ground fighter but she was no match for Harrison who armlocked her rather easily for ippon. Tcheumeo's fight against Aguiar was not as decisive. Going into the last minute, both players had a shido each on the board. Then, with about 30 seconds to go, Aguiar made a big mistake, grasping her own trousers to try to free her arm from Tcheumeo's grip. This was a common tactic used by players in the past, but this move is no longer allowed under IJF rules, so she got another shido, which cost her the match. It was a silly mistake to make in the semi-final of the Olympic Games.
Bronze
Aguiar went all out to salvage a bronze for the home crowd. She attacked early with a drop tai-otoshi that landed Castillo on her side for yuko. This was enough to win her the match. Although Aguiar was surely disappointed at not being able to go for gold, she was clearly delighted at getting the bronze. In the other bronze medal match, Velensek went after Malzahn on the ground and nearly caught her with an armlock. Malzahn survived that attack but when Velensek applied a strangle, the German had no means of escape. She tried to hold out for a matte but as her face turned purple, the referee stopped the match and awarded an ippon.
Day 6: Women's -78kg
There were only 18 contestants in the Women's -78kg division but it had three very exciting fighters in the form of Kayla Harrison (USA), Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) and home favourite Mayra Aguiar (BRA). All three are World Champions and have beaten each other at different times throughout the Olympic qualification matches over the past two years. Aguaiar had home ground advantagee but Harrison was gunning for her second Olympic gold.