The second edition of the Open European Adapted Judo Championships 2025 came to a heartfelt close in Conegliano, Italy, where the Prealpi Sanbiagio Arena echoed with cheers, pride and the spirit of inclusion. New continental champions were crowned after a day of unforgettable performances, marking yet another milestone in the growing story of adapted judo.
Seven nations rose to the top of the podium, each earning a share of continental glory, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Romania, Poland, Slovenia and Belgium, a testament to the sport’s expanding reach and the shared values it embodies.
Among the many moved by the atmosphere was Primo Longo, Sport Councillor of the Municipality of Conegliano, who spoke with warmth and pride after the medal ceremony.
“We are truly proud that Conegliano could host such an important and inclusive event. Inclusion means a great deal to us, it’s something we believe can be achieved beautifully through sport. I want to thank the organisers, the Italian Judo Federation, the European Judo Union, and especially all the athletes who made this possible.
“For our city, events like this are a powerful message: they show that sport belongs to everyone. The connection created here, between La Nostra Famiglia, the schools, and the wider community, is an incentive to keep growing, to keep building a culture of inclusive sport. Every year, Conegliano hosts an event where thousands of students from local schools, including our family institute, come together through sport. This championship is another wonderful step on that journey.”
His words captured the emotion shared by many across the arena, pride not only in medals, but in moments of courage, connection, and human strength.
For some of the athletes, the day was more than a competition, it was a personal triumph. Romania’s Lorena Maria Narcisa Cantea, winner of the L2 -57kg category, spoke openly about the emotions that filled her day:
“Yes, I was very emotional. I had a lot of emotions, especially during the first fight, I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. In both the first and the last match, the emotions were so strong, the first because it was the warm-up, and the final because it meant everything, but with the guidance of my coach, and by listening carefully, everything went very well. I’m just so happy. I feel everything deeply, that’s who I am.”
For Campbell Brooks of Great Britain, winner of the Level 1 -73kg category, victory was the culmination of years of dedication and belief.
“I feel fantastic,” he said with a smile that spoke louder than words. “I trained really hard for this, and I tried to prepare myself mentally because in the end, judo is a mental game. You can go in with a plan, but once you take the grip, everything becomes instinct. Judo is about trust, trusting what you have trained, trusting yourself, and showing what you have learnt.
“This medal represents all the hours I have put into judo, all the people who have supported me, and all the coaches who have been there from the beginning. It means the world to me. I have always dreamt of winning a title, and today, I could finally show what I have worked for.”
In Conegliano, the adapted judo family grew stronger, not only in medals, but in unity, compassion, and the shared belief that through sport, inclusion truly becomes a way of life. The event had given athletes a platform to shine, a community to belong to, and a message that resonates beyond the tatami: sport is for everyone.
Final Results
Author: Szandra Szogedi