She did it again: Eteri Liparteliani continues to be a true trailblazer for Georgian women’s judo.
Winning the -57kg at the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026, on Friday (17 April), not only meant the first European title for her and any Georgian female judoka, but she also became the first Georgian to win this title on home soil.
“I’m so happy because I’m for the first time European Champion now and it’s even a better feeling
because I did it Georgia,” the reigning World Champion said.
The path to gold was not easy, though, but Liparteliani prevailed, feeling the support from her home
crowd.
“It was so difficult because all my opponents were so strong judokas,” the 26-year-old shared. “In the
final, I lost first a yuko, but I did it, I got my opponent [Timna Nelson Levy of Israel] and I am the
European Champion.
“I felt strong and I did not think for one minute that I can loose, I had to win a 100% and this is what I
did,” she added. “I want to say thank you to all the spectators here because thanks to them I was
better and stronger.”
Liparteliani is proud to continue to write her story and the history of Georgian judo that looks back at so many great male champions.
“I am so proud because I am the first women’s World Champion from Georgia, the first European
Champion and I will be [winning] Olympic gold,” Liparteliani said.
Judoka
Author: Tatjana Flade