The -57kg final on the closing day of the Tallinn European Open 2025 had all the intensity you would expect. It was a fierce and uncompromising contest between Brazil’s Bianca Reis and Great Britain’s Acelya Toprak. It was fast-paced, tactical, and emotionally charged. Yet, when the final buzzer sounded, with a win for Reis, mutual respect, shared smiles, and a deep sense of purpose was on offer from both competitors. We caught up with both athletes following their bout, where they reflected on the battle, their journeys, and what drives them to step onto the tatami.
Bianca Reis: “I want to feel this again”
Still catching her breath but glowing with satisfaction, Reis couldn’t contain her joy. “I’m so happy right now,” she smiled. “It was a tough day, a demanding competition and the final was brutal. The level was really high, so to win here, it feels amazing. You train hard, and when you’re able to execute that on the mat and win, especially after such a long journey, it makes it all worthwhile.”
The 20-year-old judoka made the trip from São Paulo with her teammates as part of their preparation for the upcoming Junior Pan American Games. Still, there was more at stake than just building form.
“This is my final year as a junior, so becoming senior champion here means a lot. It’s a big deal for me. I’m just starting out at senior level, and although I missed the World Championships earlier, there are still important competitions ahead. Coming here was mainly about preparation but also about proving to myself I can compete here. Also, if I win the Junior Pan American Games I will be automatically qualified for the Senior Pan American Games. It is also very important for me.”
Why choose Europe, when events closer to home are available? “In Europe, the level is different. We know it’s tougher here. That’s exactly why we came, to face stronger opponents, get better, and train for what lies ahead. It’s not just about medals; it’s about development.”
Though new to senior competition, Reis’s calm demeanour and presence on the mat suggested otherwise. “We have to manage our emotions,” she said. “Being away from home, away from my parents, it’s not easy but when I win and stand on the podium, I remember why I’m here. I want to win. I want to feel this feeling again.”
Reflecting on her expectations for the day, she said: “When I saw the draw, I thought, this will be tough. I hoped to be on the podium but as I started fighting, I felt good. I thought: I can be champion today, and I did it.”
Acelya Toprak: “I fell in love with judo again”
For Toprak, the final felt, every bit, as tough as it looked: “She was really strong, especially in stopping me getting around her waist. It was a tough scrap but a good one. I had never fought her before, never even trained with her and that’s what I love about these European Opens, you get to face new opponents, feel new styles. It’s refreshing.
Despite missing out on gold, Toprak was upbeat. “It’s not always about the medal. These events give us space to try things, to enjoy judo again. I won my fights in ne-waza, that says it all. On the Grand Prix and Grand Slam circuit, you can end up fighting the same people over and over. You get stuck in a bit of a loop. Here, I had four matches today, real variety, right up to the final.”
Her performance was sharp, but like many things in life, it came at a cost, one she’s more than willing to pay again if it means being where she is today. “After the last Olympic cycle, I was ready to quit,” she admitted. “I moved home, put all my judo gear in my mum’s loft. I didn’t want to touch it. I missed my family and the people I grew up training with.”
A spontaneous appearance to Camberley Judo Club changed everything. “I did a week of training there and thought actually, I do love this. Maybe it wasn’t judo I fell out of love with, maybe it was just the environment. Camberley was a fresh start, and it was the best decision I could have made.”
Now, Toprak is rebuilding on her own terms. “I am not funded at the moment, so it’s all out of pocket or through sponsors but honestly, it’s worth it. I would rather love what I do and figure the rest out along the way. I have goals: I want to medal at Worlds, at the European Championships. I want to go to the next Games. That hasn’t changed, just now, I believe I can, and that is heavily thanks to my team. You don’t realise what needs improving until it reveals itself and that’s what Camberley Judo Club has given me: a new perspective, a renewed version of myself.”
She is grateful to those who have stood by her and the emotional hurdles. “A huge thank you to Andrew, my sponsor, he has helped me through every stage of this journey, regardless of where I was living or whom I was representing. Now, to Luke and Carly at Camberley, who have welcomed me like family. I can’t praise them enough.”
In Tallinn, the two athletes found themselves at very different stages, one just stepping into the senior ranks, the other falling back in love with the sport she nearly walked away from. Yet, what brought them together was unmistakable: a deep love for judo, the resilience to keep going and a quiet confidence in whatever comes next.
Author: Szandra Szogedi