Jack Hatton Wins First-Ever Grand Prix Medal With Bronze In Zagreb

ORIGINAL STORY ON TEAMUSA.ORG: U.S. judoka Jack Hatton won a bronze medal on Saturday at the Zagreb Grand Prix in Croatia. It was the first medal for an American in the Zagreb competition, which continues through Sunday.

Hatton, a native of Wakefield, Massachusetts, who was competing in the 81 kg. division, won his first two matches in pool D before falling to Italy’s Antonio Esposito. However, Hatton came back to beat Argentina’s Emmanuel Lucenti and then Belgium’s Joachim Bottieau in repechage to take the bronze. Esposito, ranked 10th in the world, also won a bronze medal.

The bronze was Hatton’s first medal in grand prix competition. The 22-year-old’s previous best grand prix finish was fifth this past June in Cancun, Mexico. Ranked 23rd in the world, Hatton also won two Pan American Open events this past March, one in Argentina and one in Chile.