Rio Olympics 2016: Australian judoka Nathan Katz to use narrow loss as motivation to win a medal at Tokyo 2020 Games

Northmead judoka Nathan Katz has vowed to come back stronger after his Olympic dream slipped away in the closest of encounters at the Rio Games.

Northmead resident Nathan Katz (blue) will use his narrow loss as motivation to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Picture: AFP

AN OLYMPIC medal is something Nathan Katz has dreamt of his entire life.

But Katz’s judo campaign in Rio ended in tears after he lost his round of 32 bout on Monday morning by a yuko – the smallest of margins in the sport.

Fighting Morocco’s Imad Bassou, Katz matched it with the African champion for the majority of the clash.

But with just 47 seconds on the clock his medal dreams were shattered as he was flung to the mat by Bassou and was unable to get himself on the scoreboard by taking his opponent down.

If the score remained at 0-all, the 21-year-old from Northmead would have won the fight due to having the least penalties.

“My goal is to be an Olympic champion. It was painful to lose, and I’m going to work hard for the next three to four years because I never want that feeling at an Olympic Games again,” Katz told the Parramatta Advertiser.

“It hurts you. Walking onto the mat was the best feeling in the world but after you lose, you realise your Olympic dream of winning a medal has been put on hold for another four years.

“We went in with a clear plan and I went away from it for 30 seconds and didn’t close out the fight the way I needed to.”

The moment Nathan Katz had a concentration lapse and conceded a yuko against Morocco’s Imad Bassou. Picture: AFP

A win would have earned Katz the opportunity to take on Canadian Antoine Bouchard, who reached the bronze medal fight, in the round of 16.

“It was tough because the competition really opened up and a few people I thought I’m capable of beating ended up fighting for medals,” Katz said.

His younger brother Josh suffered the same fate in the under-60kg division, eliminated in the round of 32 by Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Urozboev.

“Josh had the world number 7 and started well but then got caught on the ground,” Nathan said.

“He’s very young, and he will be very difficult to beat in Tokyo (2020).”

Josh Katz (blue) took on one of the world’s best judokas, Diyorbek Urozboev of Uzbekistan, in his Olympics debut. Picture: Getty Images

At 18, Josh was the youngest Australian man to compete in Olympic judo.

Following his match, Josh posted a message on his Facebook page expressing his disappointment.

“I feel like I have let myself­ and others down,” he wrote. “ ... This certainly won’t be the last time I fight on the world stage, and I know that this moment will without a doubt drive me to one day step up on to the podium­ listening to the Australian anthem.”

Our other homegrown Olympic stars will begin their medal campaigns this week. Pemulwuy footballer Ellie Carpenter is yet to play for the Matildas during the tournament but could get her opportunity in a must-win game against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Ellie Carpenter. Picture: AAP

Dani Samuels.

The 16-year-old defender was on the bench for the 2-0 loss to Canada and 2-all draw with Germany. Australia must defeat Zimbabwe by a comfortable margin to have any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Parramatta shooter Warren Potent is a medal chance in the 50m rifle prone event on Friday.

Parramatta Little Athletics alumnus Brandon Starc will start his high jump campaign on Monday while former Granville girl Dani Samuels will compete in the discus on Tuesday.

Auburn fighter Hayder Shkara has to wait until August 19 to make his Olympic debut in taekwondo.