The men’s -73kg category belonged to Irakli Goginashvili (GBR) but not without a battle. The British judoka was tipped to medal, and he delivered with gold, though his path was anything but smooth. Each of his five contests was a war of attrition, littered with penalties, yet time and again he reminded everyone why he was the top seed: with raw determination and flashes of spectacular judo.
The final was the ultimate test. Facing Sweden’s Narek Vardanian, Goginashvili stepped into his longest and most grueling fight of the day. Nearly ten minutes of relentless action unfolded, with six of those in golden score. The penalties stacked up on both sides as fatigue took its toll but neither man surrendered. Explosive attacks kept coming, the crowd gasping at every close call.
By the nine-minute mark, the tension was unbearable. Vardanian, forced to the edge of the tatami, attempted a desperate sasai-tsurikomi-ashi to avoid a fatal penalty. Goginashvili read it instantly, countering with a thunderous koshi-guruma to seal the victory. Gold was his, and the relief was written all over his face.
Afterward, the young Brit, with Georgian roots and family pride shining through, spoke openly about the journey:
“I expected this, but I still can’t believe it. I know what I came for, and I got it. I feel very good, very proud. I had some tough moments, especially against Tavoletta. I was drained, but I pulled myself together in the semi-final and even in the final, despite the fatigue, I kept my confidence. Judo is my life. I started at two years old with my dad, who’s still my coach. It runs in my family, my dad, my granddad. I live in London but my blood is Georgian, and I carry both with me.”
His honesty revealed just how much this gold meant. After three previous European Junior Championships where he barely managed a single win, Goginashvili admitted that the biggest change was internal:
“Before, I was thinking too much about what people expected of me. Today, I just focused on myself, on the work I have done. Nobody knows how much I train. That’s what mattered.”
The support system was crucial too. Goginashvili made sure to thank his father-coach Levon, his club, and those who stood by his side in the chair: Chloe Cowen-Vickers and Simon Moss.
The bronze medals went to Lucio Tavoletta (ITA), whose earlier clash with Goginashvili nearly derailed the champion’s run, and Peter Jean (FRA). Meanwhile, Italy continues to dominate the medal table, already boasting three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals, proving their depth across the categories.
Author: Szandra Szogedi