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Kayla Harrison wins bronze at world judo championships

Yahima Ramirez, left, spars against Kayla Harrison during the Judo World Championships.
(MAXIM SHIPENKOV / EPA)
By David Wharton
Staff WriterFollow
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Last summer, Kayla Harrison tweeted photos of herself at the hospital -- fresh off knee surgery -- with the words: “The comeback has started.”

The 24-year-old Ohio native marked the next stage of that journey on Friday with a bronze medal at the 2014 World Judo Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Harrison stormed back through the repechage after losing to the eventual champion -- Mayra Aguiar of Brazil -- in the 78-kilogram semifinals.

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Before her injury, she ranked among the brightest U.S. stars at the 2012 London Olympics. Her story made national news when she spoke of being sexually abused by a coach and nearly quitting the sport.

Harrison won gold at those Games, becoming the first Olympic champion in U.S. judo history.

The world championships are scheduled to continue through Sunday.

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David Wharton

David Wharton has filled an array of roles – covering the courts, entertainment, sports and the second Persian Gulf War – since starting as a Los Angeles Times intern in 1982. His work has been honored by organizations such as the Society for Features Journalism and Associated Press Sports Editors and has been anthologized in “Best American Sports Writing.” He has also been nominated for an Emmy and has written two books, including “Conquest,” an inside look at USC football during the Pete Carroll era.

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