PARALYMPICS /
Newsmakers
German twin celebration
By Cui Xiaohuo
China Daily/The Paralympian Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-09-09 11:14
Identical twins Carmen and Ramona Brussig never lack support when taking on the world's best judokas.
During bouts, all either of the German sisters needs do is look up into the grandstand to see the other willing on a win.
Germany's Ramona Brussig (right), the younger twin, competes against Algeria's Mounia Karkar in their semifinal bout of the women's 57kg judo event. Ramona won the bout to enter the final where she won silver. [China Daily]
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And their support mechanism helped produce two Paralympic medals in Beijing.
Carmen, just 15 minutes older, made a brilliant Paralympic debut by bagging a bronze medal in the women's 48kg category on the first day of the judo competition.
Just 24 hours later, younger sister Ramona settled for silver in the women's 57kg category after winning gold four years ago.
"Carmen's medal is a big, big boost for me. She must be watching me somewhere from the stand," Ramona said through an interpreter after finishing her matches.
Ramona secured a berth in the semifinals by defeating Turkey's Duygu Cete with a golden score in her first bout yesterday.
The two-time Paralympian defended well and took her chances against Algeria's Mounia Karkar in the semis, but ultimately lost the final to China's Wang Lijing.
The 19-year-old Wang overwhelmed her opponent in front of a home crowd with four kokas and a yuko score, as well as a final decisive ippon.
"This final was really tough indeed, but I was happy to win a silver medal here," Ramona said.
"I trained solidly in the past four years."
In Athens, the Leipzig native won her category and was nominated for a German Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award.