By James Toney

Former world judo number one Lucy Renshall was left to reflect on the cruelness of sport after defeat at the Olympics.

Renshall was beaten by former British team-mate Lubjana Piovesana, who lives in Sutton Coldfield and was here trainer partner at the GB Judo Centre of Excellence in Walsall before switching allegiance to Austria three years ago.

She’d opened under-63kg campaign in style, beating Australia's Katharina Haecker, but Piovesana proved her measure in a contest that was decided by a golden score, leaving the 28-year-old in tears.

“Judo is such a cruel sport. The last 12 weeks have probably been the best 12 weeks of training I’ve done before. I felt like I had more to give," said Renshall, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

"My first contest was really tough but that's no excuse, it wasn’t that exhausting.

"I felt good, and I’ve been training for a fight like that. We’ve fought – that was our eighth time so we know each other really well and I had an idea it would go like that, but I felt good afterwards."

“I think that’s what happens when you fight someone so regularly and you know someone so well, it’s quite a rubbish fight because you know each other so well. She was the better player on the day."

"I came here for a medal, so it's hard to feel anything right now."

Renshall is one of five judokas on Team GB - who have won four medals at the last three Games in the sport.

She has a formidable record on the biggest stage in her sport, racking up 15 Grand Slam medals and winning a confidence-boosting bronze at the prestigious Paris Grand Slam in February.

"The better person won on the day," added Renshall, who lost at the same stage three years ago when she made her Olympic debut in Toyko.

"It’s hard and frustrating and more upsetting when you give absolutely everything, and then it doesn’t go your way. I feel like it’s not fair. But that’s just sport, so I’ll have a rest and see what happens next."

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