The ghost of Atlanta returned to haunt world champion Noriko Anno at the Sydney Olympics on Thursday as she made a surprise exit from the women's under-78 kg competition.
Anno lost her first bout to Italy's former world champion Emanuela Pierantozzi -- a repeat of her first-round loss to Edinaci Silva of Brazil at the 1996 Olympics.
"I did not get nervous before the bout," a weeping Anno said Thursday. "But when I stepped onto the mat I felt the fear of Atlanta."