Josipa Kafadar's first-ever Olympics was short-lived.
The Burnaby taekwondo athlete lost her Round of 16 match in the women's -49 kg category at the Paris 2024 Summer Games on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
The 23-year-old, ranked 13th to begin the day-long tournament, fell by a score of 2-0 to fourth-seeded Lena Stojkovic of Croatia, a former world champion who went on to win the bronze medal.
Kafadar's first game was admirable in fending off Stojkovic from earning a point.
The 2019 Alpha Secondary graduate, however, failed to register a punch or kick herself, resulting in a 0-0 tie. Stojkovic was the official winner for recording more hits.
Needing a win to stay alive, Kafadar vaulted to a 5-1 lead in the second game after recording two points for a kick to the body and, upon video review, three more for a kick to the head.
Stojkovic retaliated with a four-point turning kick to the body, plus one more punch, for a 6-5 comeback victory and earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
"Thank you to all who have supported me on my Olympic journey," Kafadar wrote in a social media post after the loss.
"I am so truly grateful. I’ll be back, and better than ever."
Kafadar, a biophysics student at Simon Fraser University (SFU), booked her ticket to France after claiming one of Canada's three taekwondo spots from Pan American Qualification in April.
She's one of two known Burnaby athletes at the Summer Olympics with Justina Di Stasio set to compete on Saturday, Aug. 10, in the 76 kg division of women's freestyle wrestling.
