The standings at the halfway stage of the European Junior Cup Graz 2026 have been turned on their head. No fewer than nine European nations feature in the top 10 of the medal table, sharing five of the seven gold medals awarded on the opening day. Yet the nation sitting proudly at the top is not European at all, instead, Brazil.
The 28-strong South American delegation collected two gold and two bronze medals in an impressive display. Ana Soares (+78 kg), seeded second for the event, arrived in Graz in excellent form after claiming the junior Pan American title just a month ago. The 18-year-old continued her winning run in Austria, proving untouchable once again. Across her four victories, Soares spent a combined total of just 8 minutes and 25 seconds of contest time on the tatami. By now, she must surely be considered one of the leading favourites for the Junior World Championships in Tashkent this November.
Brazil’s second gold medal, however, came as a major surprise. For fellow 18-year-old Victor Hugo Silva (-60 kg), this was the first international junior tournament of his career. Prior to Saturday, he did not feature in the IJF World Ranking List. Six victories later, he has firmly announced himself as a name to remember.
Alongside the Brazilian celebrations, the host nation also had reason to cheer. Leonie Bayr (-70 kg), another unseeded competitor, secured Austria’s third home victory in the fifth edition of the Graz tournament.
“In Poznan, I conceded two counter-attacks against Diana Benkova and lost; this time I was much more defensive and showed more tactical awareness. That’s how I managed to turn the tables. For me, this victory isn’t really that surprising. After winning bronze in Poznan, I knew that a win was also possible,” said Bayr.
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Another first-time gold medallist emerged in Slovenia’s Neza Mesicek (-63 kg). The 19-year-old overcame the higher-ranked Ilariia Tsurkan, the EYOF winner and second seed, in an all-Slovenian final.
The victories of 2025 Junior European Champion Mahammad Musayev (-66 kg/AZE) and 2026 Lignano Junior European Cup winner Aurora Mengia (-78 kg/ITA) came as no surprise, with both athletes continuing their impressive form.
The question now is whether Europe’s leading nations can knock Brazil from the top of the medal table when competition resumes on Sunday, 31 May.
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Author: Wolfgang Eichler
Author: EJU Media