The Junior European Judo Championships 2025 will unfold in Bratislava from 4–7 September, gathering the continent’s brightest young judoka for four days of fierce competition, three dedicated to individual contests and one to the thrilling team event.
For the teenagers stepping onto the tatami, the championships could mark the start of something far greater. Some will be chasing continental glory, others hoping for international recognition, and many will see this as the first step on a path towards Olympic dreams. While it is the first time Slovakia will host the Junior Europeans, the city of Bratislava is no stranger to staging pivotal judo moments. Layers of history are waiting to be dusted off.
Back in 1999, the Slovak capital hosted the European Senior Championships, a landmark event that featured some of the sport’s true greats. France’s double Olympic champion David Douillet and the Netherlands’ Olympic champion Mark Huizinga both fought for European titles. Spain’s Isabel Fernandez, another Olympic champion, topped the women’s podium, alongside Belgium’s celebrated medallists Gella Vandecaveye and Ulla Werbrouck. France’s Stéphane Traineau and Céline Lebrun also struck gold, sealing that edition as one of the defining chapters in Europe’s judo story.
Fast forward to 2015, and Bratislava was again centre stage, this time for the European U23 Championships. Italy’s Fabio Basile announced himself in style by claiming the U23 crown. Less than a year later, he stunned the judo world in Rio, storming to Olympic gold. His path to glory, too, had its roots on Bratislava tatami.
The city’s role has only grown since. Bratislava has hosted the European Cup since 2013 and added a successful European Open in 2020. The Slovak capital has often been the proving ground where future champions sharpened their edge. Both Majlinda Kelmendi and Khasan Khalmurzaev fine-tuned their form here before stepping onto the Olympic podium in 2016.
Slovakia’s commitment to judo stretches across generations. Earlier this year, the Cadet European Cup was staged in Šamorín, another step in building pathways for young athletes. In 2022, Banská Bystrica welcomed the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), one of the biggest multi-sport events in the region, where names like Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko, Kerem Primo, Vera Wandel, Joshua De Lange, and Ibrahim Demirel captured their first taste of “Olympic” success.
Bratislava, set on the Danube near the Austrian and Hungarian borders, its old town streets and castle views offer an inspiring backdrop for athletes and fans alike. For many judoka, this will be their first taste of a major international tournament, a test of ability, but also an introduction to the wider world of elite sport.
The Slovak capital is once again ready to welcome Europe’s rising stars, tomorrow’s Olympians and national heroes in the making. The city that has launched legends is await for the next chapter and for the judoka of 2025, the stage is set. Stay tuned, detailed weight category previews are coming in the days ahead.
Cover Image: Buf Vaumont
Author: Szandra Szogedi