There are moments in sport that transcend medals, rankings and statistics, moments that pulse with emotion, legacy and love. At the European Judo Championships Veterans 2025, held fittingly at the International Exhibition Centre in Riga, Latvia, one such moment unfolded as Aigars Milenbergs stepped onto the tatami for what was meant to be the final chapter of an extraordinary career.
For over a decade, Aigars has been a mainstay on the IJF circuit, representing Latvia at the sport’s highest levels. From cadet triumphs to senior struggles, and finally to his resurgence among the veterans, Aigars has lived the full spectrum of a judoka’s life. Yet, this tournament was different. This was home.
Aigars arrived in Riga with a quiet resolution. “If I win the gold medal, then… uh, I probably will go to the veteran World Championship,” – he admitted, smiling with a hint of reluctance. “So this is not quite retirement but getting into the final made me change my mind. The goal was to do better than last year, back then, I won bronze in M1. Now, it’s M2, my first year, and it’s possible to take gold in both Europeans and Worlds. Still, this is certainly my last Europeans.”
There was something poetic about that decision. As fate would have it, the tournament’s location played a role in reshaping his plans. “If this tournament wasn’t in Riga, I probably wouldn’t have competed,” – he confessed. “Maybe only if it was somewhere else in the Baltics. This place means a lot to me.”
When asked to recall his career highlights, Aigars didn’t boast. He simply offered the facts, laced with a modest pride. “I have got medals from cadets and juniors Europeans. I never got a senior European medal… but now I have got bronze at veterans and today, I am in the final. I want that gold.” It is this humble, grounded determination that has defined Aigars throughout his career and now, as he bows out, perhaps not entirely, he does so with a sense of fulfilment and clarity.
Notably, Aigars hasn’t walked this path alone. His brother, Gatis Milenbergs, has been a constant force mentor, coach, confidant and blood. “I feel a big power on my back because of him,” – Aigars said, his voice softer than usual. “It has helped me a lot.”
Together, they founded Kyodai, a judo club whose name fittingly means “brothers” in Japanese, a reflection of their close bond. Even the club’s logo symbolises their unity. Over the past 14 years, Kyodai has become more than a club, it’s been a family and a factory for champions, shaping the next generation of Latvian judoka. For Aigars, retirement doesn’t mean stepping away, it simply means shifting focus. He is already on the road, literally…
“After the competition today, I will drive about three hours to another country,” – he said. “We have got two juniors competing at a cup tomorrow. They are waiting for me.” He laughs, but there’s a spark in his eyes the same one that’s guided him through countless tournaments. The same one he now passes on to his students.
“I am satisfied with everything,” – he said in closing. “But I know it’s time to switch to another position and start giving back. We are in Riga, and there are lots of kids from our club in the tribune cheering for me. It’s the right moment to step down.”
And Gatis? He has worn many hats, vice-president of the Latvian Judo Federation, sports commissioner for the European Judo Union, but when it comes to Aigars, he is first and foremost a brother. “I was waiting for this moment all these days, whether I was walking to the venue or going to meetings, it’s joyful, yes, but this moment… when I go back into the coaching corner with him… it’s different.
“When I was a competitor, I was never nervous but when I started coaching Aigars, it was like having a volcano inside. I can’t show it. If he sees I am nervous, he might feel unsure. So I stay stone-faced but inside, it’s fire. It’s always a special moment to go out with him.”
Perhaps that’s the most beautiful part of all this: not the medals, not the rankings, but the legacy. In the capital of his homeland, surrounded by his students and guided by his brother, Aigars Milenbergs bows out not with an end, but with a promise. A promise to lead, to teach and to continue fighting just in a different way.
Kyodai. Brothers. Always.
Author: Szandra Szogedi