Conway, who competed in the -70kg category and hasn’t ruled out appearing at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, defeated Bernadette Graf of Austria by one yuko to claim bronze on her second Olympic outing – and afterwards the 29-year-old said she was keen to ‘enjoy the moment’.
She said: “It feels absolutely amazing; I am so happy I can’t even put it into words at the moment.
“I didn’t have much time in between [the semi-final loss and the bronze medal match]. One minute you have to the chance to become Olympic champion and the next you are fighting for a bronze medal.
“It was such a quick turnover I didn’t have much time to think, I just had to get bronze after everything I put myself through today.
“The better you fight during the day and the more wins you get under your belt you do grow in confidence. At the start of the day I was very nervous and wondering what today might hold but as the day has gone on I have enjoyed it more and more.
“London 2012 was such an amazing experience for me but also a massive disappointment [she lost in the round of 16] but to come away with a bronze medal at Rio 2016, makes every moment worth it.
“Tokyo 2020 is not out of the question, we will see, but I will enjoy this moment and see afterwards.
“I told myself to believe in myself, you have got to believe in yourself, I have even got a tattoo on my arm [saying ‘believe’]. You have got to believe that you are up there with the best and go out confident and do your thing.”
Photo credit: IJF Media by G. Sabau and Zahonyi
