European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Gennaro Pirelli: “You Have to Fight Until Your Last Breath.”

Gennaro Pirelli of Italy did not even know if he was able to compete at the European Judo Championships Seniors 2026 Tbilisi and now he leaves with his first senior continent gold medal. “I am very, very happy,” Pirelli said. “I still have to realise it because I come from…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Alice Bellandi: “Every title, every competition gives you something special.”

She is Olympic champion, World champion and now finally she is European champion: Italy’s Alice Bellandi completed her impressive title collection at the European Judo Championships Seniors 2026 Tbilisi on Sunday with a victory over Emma Reid of Great Britain. “It’s amazing, it was something that I was always missing,”…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

+100 kg: Tushishvili Gives Tbilisi a Final Triumph

To close out the 2026 European Championships in Tbilisi, it is fitting that a Georgian superstar is fighting for gold. Guram Tushishvili has been world champion, has an Olympic medal and has already appeared in 3 European finals. Georgia loves him and on day 4 in the Georgian capital, he…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

+78 kg: Hershko Leaves No Room for Doubt

In the last of the women’s categories at the 2026 European Championships Tbilisi, top seed and favourite for gold Raz Hershko (ISR) blazed a trail through the draw all the way to the final. There, she was lined up against Lea Fontaine (FRA), one of two very experienced French heavyweights…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-100 kg: An Emotional Gennaro Pirelli Upgrades his 2025 Continental Bronze to Gold

Top seed at -100 kg in Tbilisi was 2024 world and current Olympic champion Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE). From the beginning of day 4 at this European championships, he looked set to take the title with a set of robust wins in the early rounds. However, in his semi-final he expected…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-78 kg: Alice Bellandi Completes the Triple Crown

The Olympic and world champion arrived in Tbilisi with the distinct aim of completing the triple crown. Alice Bellandi (ITA) was still missing the senior European title and this was the opportunity to sign it off. A bye and a 1-minute win offered the perfect start to her day and…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Apeldoorn is Ready for "Orange Party“ at Senior European Championships 2027

The long wait will finally be over: For the first time in 22 years, the Netherlands will host the European Senior Championships in 2027. Following the official flag handover ceremony in Tbilisi, the Dutch can look back at a rich judo history and look forward to create more in Apeldoorn. …

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Official Visit to the French School of the Caucasus in Tbilisi

On the occasion of the European Judo Championships 2026 in Tbilisi, France Judo organised a session at the French School of the Caucasus (École française du Caucase), continuing a series of similar initiatives held alongside major international events. In the spirit of Jita Kyoei, members of France Judo, the European…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Ngayap-Hambou Did the Unthinkable in Georgia's House

Prior to the Olympic Games in Paris, young Frenchman Maxime-Gael Ngayap-Hambou had shown promise with a handful of medals on the World Judo Tour, but in 2024, he truly came into his own when he lit up the Champs Du Mars, winning an Olympic bronze medal in front of a…

19 April 2026

Warsaw Veteran European Cup 2026 - Warsaw, Poland

Friendship, Travel, and the Polish Anthem

With 16 gold, 17 silver, and 10 bronze medals, the Polish team finished the Warsaw Veterans Cup 2026 in 1st place in the medal standings, confirming their dominance and exceptionally high sporting level. This result clearly shows that veterans’ judo is not merely about competition “after the prime years,” but…

19 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Luka Maisuradze: "I will always fight till the end”

Luka Maisuradze made the home crowd proud on Saturday at the European Judo Championships Senior Tbilisi 2026, giving Georgia its third gold medal.  It was a special moment to savour when Maisuradze got the decisive point in the Golden Score.  “Of course, I’m very proud, I’m a double European Champion…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Özbas Szofi: "Something big can happen in just one moment”

Özbas Szofi came, saw and conquered. The Hungarian judoka defended her title in style at the European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Saturday, winning the final over rising French star Melkia Auchercorne.  Coming off the tatami, Özbas was still stunned and had a hard time to realise what she just…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Timur Arbuzov: “It felt like we were gladiators in a Colosseum.”

It is always hard to defend a title. And it is even harder to do so against an opponent from the host country who has the whole stadium behind him. But Russia’s Timur Arbuzov did exactly that. The 22-year-old defended his European -81kg title in spectacular fashion on Saturday at…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-90 kg: Maisuradze Gives the Hosts Their Anthem

On day three at the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi, the fairy tale for the local organisers would of course have been for their two -90 kg heroes reaching the final of the European Championships, to ensure two Georgian flags would hang over the podium. It wasn’t to be!  Lasha Bekauri,…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-70 kg: Szofi Strikes Again for Second European Success

Day three in Tbilisi has delivered on every level: an array of great technical moments, emotions, surprises. Current European champion Ozbas Szofi (HUN) arrived as the number two seed and therefore had the aim of exceeding her ranking with a sparkling championship performance. She completed the tasks she set herself…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Timur Treats Tato to Three Throws for the Top Tier

Timur Arbuzov (RUS) arrived in Tbilisi with the red backpatch and began his day at the top of the draw. Day three of the European Championships in Tbilisi was supposed to be his but reaching the top step of the podium would not be easy, not for anyone. Three other…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Judo is Family Business for the Borchashvilli Brothers

Judoka see themselves as a family but the Austrian Borchashvillis, with one or two ‘l’, are a judo family in the literal sense of the word.  Brothers Movli (+100kg) and Magamed (-81kg) are competing at the European Judo Championships Senior Tbilisi 2026, as is their cousin Isssa Naschcho (-90kg). Their…

18 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Which Nation Will Top the Medal Table in Tbilisi?

On day one of the 2026 senior European Championships in Tbilisi, France made their intentions clear, winning medals in every one of the 4 categories in play. Golds for Boukli and Mkheidze, silver for Buchard and a bronze medal from Khyar sprung their team to the top of leaderboard. The…

18 April 2026