Anita Staps

Anita Staps (1980)

Anita Staps (born April 5, 1961 in Tilburg ) is a former Dutch judoka . In 1980 she was the first Dutch judo world champion.

Athletic career

Anita Staps took part in the British Open from 1974 to 1976 and won in 1976 in the weight class up to 56 kilograms. In 1978 she won her first Dutch championship title, now starting in the weight class up to 61 kilograms. In 1980 she was again Dutch champion. At the 1980 World Championships in New York City, the first ever women's world championships in judo, Anita Staps defeated the Yugoslav Marina Angelović in her first fight and Xiomara Orozco from Venezuela in the quarterfinals . In the semifinals she defeated the German Inge Berg and in the final the Italian Laura di Toma . In 1981 she won her third Dutch championship title.

In 1982 Anita Staps competed in the weight class up to 66 kilograms and became Dutch champion at the beginning of the year. At the end of 1982 the second women's world championships took place in Paris . Staps defeated Australian Kerrye Katz and Christine Penick from the United States. In the semifinals she was defeated by the German Karin Krüger , and Staps won the battle for a bronze medal against the Austrian Gertrude Kranzl .

After a year without taking part in an international tournament, Anita Staps competed in the weight class up to 72 kilograms in 1984 and was also the Dutch champion straight away. At the World Championships in Vienna, she lost to the German Barbara Claßen in the quarterfinals . With victories in the hope round over the Finn Anne Akerblom and the Danish Merete Gray she won a bronze medal. In 1985 she was again Dutch champion. At the European Championships in 1985 , she lost in the quarter-finals to French Nathalie Lupino , and she lost the battle for bronze to Austrian Karin Posch .

Then Anita Staps returned to the weight class up to 66 kilograms and won her seventh championship title in 1986. At the European Championships in 1986, she finished seventh. Six months later, the 1986 World Championships took place in Maastricht . Staps lost to Brigitte Deydier from France in the quarterfinals . With victories over the British Eileen Boyle and the Polish Jolanta Marszałek , Anita Staps won a bronze medal. She had won a medal at the first four world championships. In 1987 she ended her active career and became a judo teacher.

Web links

• Tournament results at JudoInside.com

Footnotes

1. ↑ Match balance at judoinside.com. The opponents of the later world championships can also be found in the match balance.