After the Olympic title conquered last year in Tokyo, Steven da Costa will not add that of European champion after his defeat against the Greek Dionysios Xenos in the semi-final of less than 67kg.
Steven da Costa wanted to expand his record in Gaziantep. But the native of Mont-Saint-Martin will not climb for the third time on the top step of the podium during the European championships. After the titles acquired in Montpellier in 2016 then in Guadalajara, the Olympic champion under 67kg last summer in Tokyo will not be able to do better than bronze during the competition organized in Turkey. After kicking off his tournament with a victory over the Georgian Luka Khvedeliani, Steven da Costa overcame the Swiss Matthias Brunner then the Israeli Rom Gaigy to qualify for the semi-finals of his category. Opposed to Dionysios Xenos, the Habs gave everything but lost by the smallest of margins against the European defending champion (1-0). While the Greek will face the Turkish Buray Uygur for a new continental crown, Steven da Costa will find the Croatian Boran Berak for the bronze medal this Saturday.
Intractable all morning, @Steven_DaCosta unfortunately saw the final slip away.
It’s not the metal he came for but our champion will indeed have a new medal to win in two days 🥉
📸 Denis Boulanger#FranceKarate #EuroKarate2022 pic.twitter.com/UmtkPlIBTp
— FFKarate (@ffkarate) May 26, 2022
Da Costa: “It was too complicated for me”
Following this defeat, Steven da Costa spoke at length to the press and gave an uncompromising assessment of his day. “The first fights, it’s true that I score a lot of points, but more out of ease and instinct,” said the French karateka in comments collected by the French Federation. I was not in the rhythm, not in the right times to attack. The scores did not reflect my level of the day and it shows in the semi-finals. Assuring to feel “tired”, Steven da Costa confided that he did not “find a solution” in his duel against Dionysios Xenos. “I have more juice in my legs because the fights are linked quickly today (Thursday), he added. Usually, it’s a configuration that I appreciate but, this time, it was too complicated for me. “Now place to remobilization to get the bronze medal, as at the European Championships in Porec last year.
