San Jose State Grad Marti Malloy Wins Bronze

Marti Malloy, the San Jose State grad from Oak Harbor, Wash., is now a bronze medal Olympian. 

But it wasn't easy.

The judo competitor upset No. 2 ranked Telma Monteiro of Portugal in the morning, was handed a disappointing and resounding loss to Corina Caprioriu of Romania, then just 90 minutes later battled back from her emotions and captured the bronze in the 57 kg weight category. She did that on Monday with the judo equivalent of a knockout called an ippon, David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times wrote.

"Malloy seems in tears. From crushing defeat to bronze triumph in less than 90 minutes," San Jose Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy tweeted from matside.

She's just the second woman from the U.S. with that honor after Ronda Rousey did it four years ago.

She saw her coach, 92-year-old Yosh Uchida - the legendary San Jose State judo founder - up in the stands, beaming for her.

"And when I looked up, I saw Yosh up in the seats, so happy. I think I started crying," Malloy told Purdy. "He has been my No. 1 supporter."

Uchida once was the United States Olympic coach, and helped write the international judo rule book back in 1964. Work done by Uchida and colleagues in codifying judo standards and weight classes helped it become an Olympic sport, Purdy noted. Uchida has coached San Jose State to 45 collegiate judo championships. He remains an assistant to the head coach. 

And Malloy was giving out props to another Bay Area Olympian via Twitter, BleacherReport said, finding lots of mutual cheerleading going around the women of Team USA.  

"My roommate Ariel Hsing of @usatabletennis just won round 2 @ the Olympics 2 get in2 the top 32! Good luck 2night girl! Your on fire #proud" Malloy tweeted under her Twitter handle, martidamus.

Kaori Matsumoto of Japan won the judo gold medal, defeating the Romanian Caprioriu, who earned the silver.