– I actually have a bit of mixed feelings. Partly because I feel I’ve hit my head a bit, and because I’ve lost a final. Something I would have preferred to avoid with all my might, but my body wasn’t quite in play at the end there. I wasn’t quite where I want to be, and it ended with a silver medal, unfortunately, says a disappointed Grace Bullen to news. The Norwegian European Championship hope received a couple of strong blows to the head during the final against Jirina Kolijadenko, and asked the referee to have a break from the match in the last period. Several doctors came pouring in to examine a slightly dazed Bullen, but she didn’t get a break. – Unfortunately, the referee did not listen to me when I asked for a break the first time, and then had to continue the match. It wasn’t long, but long enough for me to disappear, says Bullen. – What did you feel when you told the judge? – You feel a little frustration at not being heard. I’m a person … A lot of athletes here don’t speak up right away. Especially on the girl side, when you have a bit of pain, she says. ASKED FOR A BREAK: Grace Bullen was affected by the head bangs after the final match. Photo: Kim Peder Rismyhr / news After the match, Bullen had a longer medical check-up. She says that she “blacked out” for a period during the match, and during the interview with news she had to ask for a break. – Can I have just one minute, she says to news, while sports director Thor Hyllegård comes over and holds her around. – I fall back and forth a bit. I’m just very dizzy, says Bullen before news interrupts the interview. Praised by Aanes: – Extremely impressed Ukrainian Kolijadenko opened the best in the final and took the lead 2-0 after getting Bullen down. The Norwegian hope fought to fight back, but ran into more problems. Towards the end of the first period it was 5-0 to Kolijadenko, but then Bullen struck. She lifted her opponent spectacularly and slammed her to the ground with a throw over her shoulders. The judges spent a long time discussing how many points the 26-year-old should get for the manoeuvre, and after a longer discussion they gave Bullen two points. Shortly afterwards, at the start of the second period, she slammed again and Kolijadenko ended up on the mat again. Four new points for Bullen, who were suddenly in the lead. – It’s a typical Grace Bullen match, with a lot of points. She has a style where she scores a lot of points. She is a bit unlucky in a couple of situations in the first part, but impresses when she continues with her style, says Aanes. After the headbutt, Kolijadenko reasserted her grip on the match, which she eventually won 9–6. Nevertheless, Aanes pays tribute to Bullen. – I have to say that I am extremely impressed that she will reach a final in the first year after she has changed weight class. It seems that she has smart people around her, says former national team coach Fritz Aanes to news. COACH PROFILE: Fritz Aanes. Photo: news Medal winner Bullen qualified for the final after a 7-6 victory over Bulgarian Zhivkova Dudova on Thursday. Experienced Dudova has four European Championship golds and a World Championship gold on her track record from earlier in her career, but was unable to stand up to the Norwegian hopes. Bullen is no lightweight either, and has its share of trophies in the prize cupboard. The 26-year-old won World Cup silver in the 59-kilogram class last year, and is a two-time European champion in the 57- and 58-kilogram classes from earlier. On Friday evening, the medal hunt continued. This time with a new silver. Scary injury Earlier on the day of the finals, Jowita experienced horror in the 57-kilogram class. At the very start of her final, the match was abruptly stopped. She looked down at her own hand and saw that her ring finger was bent in the wrong direction, apparently broken. – Switches are made of steel, said the commentator on news’s broadcast. Watch the video of the incident here: Wrzesien kept his composure and barely made a move as the doctors came running to tape up the finger. She continued the match, but was unable to win against Elena Heike Brugger. The match ended 3–1 in the German’s favour. Wrzesien has previously won EC silver and WC bronze in the 59-kilogram class, and will have to wait a little longer for a long-awaited gold. Photo: news
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Bullen dramatically lost the EC final – took silver – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
