"Had tears of joy"

Judo jewel Dengg crowned world champion

Gold for Elena Dengg!(Bild: GEPA)

Elena Dengg has once again proven that she is the great hope for the future in Austrian judo. The 20-year-old from ESV Sanjindo Bischofshofen won the gold medal at the U21 World Championships in Tajikistan. 

Gold for Austria! Gold for Salzburg! And above all: Gold for Elena Dengg! The judo super talent lived up to her reputation and won the U21 title at the World Championships in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. "This means so much to me. I had tears of joy in my eyes when the anthem started. It was the perfect moment, I'm really proud," said the 20-year-old from ESV Sandjindo Bischofshofen. The conditions for Dengg, who competes in the 70 kg category, were certainly not the best.

Thanks to mom
Last year she "felt like she was constantly injured". Even in the days leading up to the title fights in faraway Asia, things were anything but going according to plan. "I was ill, couldn't train properly and had to take another break. It was only here in Dushanbe that I slowly started to feel better again," says the newly crowned U21 world champion, giving an insight into her emotional world.

In the final, Dengg defeated April Lynn Fohouo from Switzerland in a golden score. It was the sixth junior medal for the Salzburg Olympic squad athlete and her first gold. Special thanks go to Elena's mother Christine. "She always told me that I had to believe in myself, that I could win a medal. It's brilliant that it was gold this time."