The Estonian judo family has taken over the capital for the Tallinn European Open 2026. This event brings together the country’s elite competitors and pairs them with the passionate energy of the entire local community. To make a tournament of this scale possible, young judoka and devoted family members have stepped up to help behind the scenes, turning the event into an occasion that generates excitement, sets hearts pounding, and unites generations under one roof.
While the international battles keep judo friends on the edge of their seats, the tournament also shines a spotlight on local youth judo. On Saturday evening, 6 May, the prestigious European Open podium honoured the Estonian Judo Association’s Youth Cup champions as well. Being surrounded by the elite atmosphere gave them a lifetime memory alongside their heroes.
Highlighting the double celebration, the President of the Estonian Judo Association, Ruslan Jakimov pointed out how rare and motivating this weekend is for everyone involved. “To have our fans watch judoka who possess Olympic, world, and continental championship medals is amazing but combining this competition with the awarding ceremony of our Youth Cup winners creates a feeling that is hard to put into words. It shows our future judoka that they belong on the very same tatami as the elite athletes.”
The real excitement of the tournament and judo was best captured by our youngest talents. As they stepped off the podium alongside their heroes, their thrill said it all, keep an eye on these future stars and remember their names!
Sebastian Mettis, winner of the U10 -40 kg category, experienced a truly special day receiving the award alongside the European Open, especially since his coach and father, Juhan Mettis has previously stood on the podium at this very tournament: “I just love to wrestle and feel proud of myself. My very favorite is the rolling throw [sumi-gaeshi], even though I am not yet allowed to do it in competitions! And the best part is that I found a good friend Oskar from the judo group.”
Hendrik Tennokese, winner of U12 in +55 kg, who shares the same home club where European Open champion Emma-Melis Aktas first started her journey, was deeply inspired by watching the elite athletes compete on the big stage: “I was just cheering for Emma with all my heart. To be honest, I don’t even remember any specific techniques because I was only thinking about her holding on and hoping her opponent wouldn’t pull off any surprises. This was actually my first time seeing such a massive international judo competition. There are still many throws they did out there that I don’t even know yet, which tells me I still have so much left to learn. What impressed me the most was actually how skillfully the athletes managed to escape out of those throws. I am incredibly happy for Emma. It was so cool to see the whole arena and the home crowd cheering her on. It made me feel really proud and gave me a huge boost of motivation.”
Lisetta Rooden, winner of the U14 -52 kg category, shared how standing on the same podium as elite judoka left a powerful impression on her: “I felt incredibly proud to stand on the podium in front of a crowd that was cheering so loudly for the athletes, and it was amazing to be presented with my medal by a judoka who has won so many titles. Knowing that my own coach [Mattias Kuusik] was also a successful judoka who once stood on a podium right here has inspired and motivated me. It would be so cool to one day compete in a high-level tournament like this myself.”
Miia Sabalson, winner of the U16 -52 kg category, thinks that stepping onto the same podium as Aktas doesn’t actually make her legs shake: “The competitions I have right now are just a warm-up compared to what Emma does. The coming years will be tougher, and just being able to step onto this podium today feels really good. I would describe this feeling as a reminder that you actually achieved something after all, and that things don’t always have to go badly.”
Olympic champion and Belgium team coach Nora Gjakova said inspiring words to Estonian and all other young judoka: “My biggest advice to them is to remember that judo is a long journey. Don’t get too sad if you lose, and don’t get too excited when you win, because there will always be bigger goals ahead. The athlete who learns from their losses and finds more motivation in their wins is the one who plays the game better. No matter what happens along the way, you always have to bounce back and show up.”
The awards were given by Olympic bronze medallist Denis Vieru, EJU Vice President Catarina Rodrigues and Estonian Judo Association President Ruslan Jakimov.
Author: Maria-Helena Mettis / Photos: Marina Plotnikova
Author: EJU Media