Defending champion Ryoko Tani defeated Frederique Jossinet of France in the women's 48-kg class Saturday to claim Japan's first gold medal at the Athens Olympics, while Tadahiro Nomura won the men's 60-kg final for a historic third straight Olympic gold.

News photoJapan's Ryoko Tani (left) celebrates after defeating France's Frederique Jossinet in the women's 48-kg class to claim Japan's first gold medal of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Both Tani and Nomura mowed down opponents with ippon victories in each of their matches en route to the final.

Nomura claimed victory over Nestor Khergiani of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia on points and made history as the first person to win three consecutive golds in Olympic judo.