American karateka Ariel Torres wins bronze in men's kata

Ariel Torres Gutierrez of Team United States reacts after winning the Mens Karate Kata Bronze Medal Bout 1 on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on August 06, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. ((Photo By Harry How/Getty Images))

American karateka Ariel Torres won bronze in kata, outperforming two-time world champion and retiring Venezuelan legend Antonio Diaz on Friday at the Nippon Budokan.

The margin was razor-thin, Torres emerging victorious with a 26.72-26.34 score line.

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Also contested Friday were the women's 61kg and men's 75kg kumite classes. Only one American was involved, and Thomas Scott won two matches and lost two others to finish a point shy of advancing to the semifinals.

The semifinals and gold medal bouts will be staged later Friday.


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