Tokyo 2020: Judoka Miryam Roper drops out after a loss to Korean Jisu Kim
Miryam Roper faced Korean Jisu Kim, number 19 in the IJF world rankings at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Miryam Roper fell in her first test of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games representing Panama Judo against the Korean Jisu Kim.
Despite keeping up with her rival, Roper ended up being defeated by IPPON, shortly after the fight was over.
Born in Cologne, Germany, to a Panamanian father, Miryam Roper made the decision to compete for Panama in the current Olympic cycle with the goal of Tokyo 2020 , giving the country important medals such as bronze at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, gold at the Games. Central Americans and the Caribbean Barranquilla 2018 and the golds in the Grand Slam of Yekaterinburg 2017 and in the Pan American Senior Guadalajara 2020; and providing its support and experience to young Panamanian judocas who have started their path in international competitions.
Miryam Roper came to Tokyo 2020 for her position in the world ranking (22nd in the world), she was present at the last two Olympic events, London 2012 and Rio 2016, representing her native Germany.
The Korean, Jisu Kim, number 19 in the IJF world ranking, was the Panamanian's rival in Tokyo 2020 . Kim, who achieved the bronze medal at the 2019 Marrakesh Youth World Cup and the silver at the Asia-Oceania Senior Championships, held in the city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzsrtan in 2021.
"Representing Panama, my family and the judo of Panama makes me feel proud," Miryam Roper commented in an interview to the COP days ago.
For the first time for Panama, a delegation included two Judo athletes, such as Kristine Jiménez, who fell out on Saturday.