On Saturday, Russian judoka Arsen Galstyan won his country's first Olympic gold medal in London, beating Japan's Hiroaki Hiraoka in the 60kg final.

      It took Galstyan only about 40 seconds to finish his opponent off in the decider with an ippon – an automatic winning score.

      "I flew to London very well motivated against all opponents and I've achieved my goal," Galstyan said.

      The 23-year-old sportsman dedicated his gold medal to the victims of fatal flooding in Russia's Krasnodar region in early July. 

      In semi-final Galstyan had dealt with another big name, reigning world champion and top seed, Rishod Sobirov of Uzbekistan. Sobirov and Brazilian Felipe Kitadai shared the bronze medals in the event, while the Japanese Hiraoka received the silver. 

      It’s the first gold that Russia’s judokas have ever won. 

Image: scan3.interfax.ru