Japan's Maki Tsukada captured gold in the over-78kg women's judo competition on Friday, defeating Cuba's Dayma Beltran in the final by an ippon. China's Sun Fuming and Russian Tea Donguzashvili both claimed bronze.
World champion Fuming had hoped to regain the title she won in Atlanta in 1996, but Beltran beat her by an ippon in their semi-final encounter.
Earlier, Beltran had put out Karina Bryant - the Briton had high medal hopes but was defeated by a yuko.
Bryant went on to win her first repecharge match against Tatiana Martine Bvegadz, but then lost to Giovanna Jose Blanco.
Heavyweight Bryant was crowned European champion in the +78kg class in 2003 and, as a result, was voted European female judo player of the year.
She followed that success up with a silver and bronze in the World Championships in Japan.