Idalys Ortiz is no longer Cuba’s bronze girl…

The 22-year-old Cuban judoka won the women’s over 78-kilogram Olympic judo gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Friday, improving on the bronze she won at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Ortiz defeated Mika Sugimoto of Japan in a cagey, drawn-out final with little action, where both fighters struggled to get a grip or catch the other off balance.

The match went into overtime and the judges eventually ruled Ortiz the winner.

Earlier in the day, Ortiz triumphed over the competition’s top-seeded competitor, Wen Tong of China, in the semifinals.

Tong was the defending Olympic champion and was unbeaten in international competition since 2007. She later won a bronze in the repechage. The other bronze medal was won by Britain’s Karina Bryant.