Judo: Stormont eliminated by slick Romanian

9.55pm

ATHENS - New Zealand judoka Rochelle Stormont made a swift exit from the Olympic Games here today when she was quickly subdued by highly ranked Romanian Ioana Maria Aluas at the Ano Liossia Hall.

The South Auckland personal trainer's campaign in the 52kg competition ended 30 seconds into the bout when Aluas secured an ippon before an enthusiastic crowd.

Stormont, 22, then had to hope for a repechage but Aluas needed to beat Frenchwoman Annabelle Euranie and progress to the semifinals.

Aluas led the bout until the last minute but Euranie, the current world No 2, finished strongly and recorded a waza ari to win narrowly.

"That's the way it goes unfortunately," judo team manager Stephen Corkin told NZPA.

Corkin quizzed the Dutch camp on how to combat the Romanian but the advice was immaterial as the muscular Aluas, who was fifth in this weight division at Sydney 2000, barely raised a sweat in ending the New Zealander's involvement.

"Rochelle had to try and get in first and have a go at her but she got counted. She was a strong girl.

"She was solid and quick," Corkin said.

- NZPA