What a year 2021 for Steven Da Costa!
After a resounding coronation at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, the tricolor karateka offered himself a magnificent double by winning the gold medal at the Worlds in the -67 kg category.
Opposed in the final to Macedonian Emil Pavlov, the 24-year-old Meurthois did not hesitate to dispose of his opponent crowned European champion in 2014 and 2018 in the lower category (-60 kg).
This victory allows the French to keep his world crown which he has been wearing for three years now.
🇫🇷🥇 WORLD CHAMPION !!
After winning Olympic gold in Tokyo, Steven Da Costa (-67 kg) won the world title by thrashing Macedonian Emil Pavlov in the final!
🤩 # KarateDubai2021 # FranceKarate pic.twitter.com/JU3UO8IkLL
- francetvsport (@francetvsport) November 20, 2021
While a fight lasts only three minutes, the duel began with a long round of observation which earned both protagonists a penalty after 80 seconds.
Steven Da Costa then took matters into his own hands by placing three attacks one minute from time.
His waza ari (kick) and his two ippons (punch) earned him two and three points each respectively.
Thanks to this comfortable eight-point lead, the referee ended the fight with 52 seconds remaining on the clock.
Flag bearer of the French delegation at the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Games this summer, Steven Da Costa continues to dominate his category, he who also has two European titles to his name in 2016 and 2019. He was also the one of those who most strongly defended, in vain, the presence of karate at the Paris Games in 2024, the discipline having entered the Olympic program during the Olympics in Japan.
Two tricolor bronze medals in the morning
Earlier in the day, the French had the opportunity to pocket four bronze medals in Dubai.
By beating the Canadian Melissa Bratic (2-1), Alizée Agier managed to climb on the -68 kg podium with this first world medal since her title in 2014. Objective also achieved for Jessie Da Costa, Steven's twin brother, who won 4-2 against the reigning world champion in the -84 kg category, the Croatian Ivan Kvesic.
🇫🇷 First medal for France at the Karate Worlds!
Alizée Agier takes the bronze medal in -68 kg 🥉
Follow the Karate Worlds live ▶ https://t.co/uIWl98uaDe#KarateDubai2021 # FranceKaraté pic.twitter.com/VgSjSX8xbW
- francetvsport (@francetvsport) November 20, 2021
For his part, Enzo Berthon lost against the Russian Iurik Ogannisian, bronze medalist of the last Worlds in the -60 kg.
Ditto for the French men's kata team which was eliminated by Turkey and finished fifth.