kate howey, performance development squad coach for 2012 stated that gibbons "is one of our best medal hopes for judo" in the 2012 london olympic and paralympic games. in 2012 and ranked 42nd in the world at the time, at the 2012 london olympics gibbons won the silver medal, losing to kayla harrison in the -78 kg event. television coverage of the olympics showed footage of gibbons looking upwards and mouthing "i love you mum" after winning her semifinal match. gibbons had lost her mother to leukaemia years earlier.