Denmark’s Emilie Sook last competed among the elites at the World Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi in May 2024. Since then, she was first seen in Warsaw a few weeks ago and this weekend provided her with another appearance at the Podgorica Senior European Cup 2025.
Following the World Championships and missing out on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Sook took a well-deserved break, focusing on her academic studies, which led her to spend half a year in Kazakhstan. Though her primary focus was education, she continued training during her time there. Returning to the dojo in December, she decided to gradually ease back into competition. This latest result, securing a spot on the podium in Podgorica, is an encouraging sign for the Danish judoka, “Since returning to regular training, I had a fifth place [in Warsaw]. It was nice to be on the podium again. For me, it is going to be about small steps and next week, I am fighting also at another European Cup. Eventually, I hope to get back on the IJF World Tour but I haven’t set a deadline around when that may be.”
Sook holds a unique place in Danish judo history as the first Danish judoka to win a European Open medal after it was rebranded as an “Open.” She is also the first in her country to win an IJF World Tour medal. Her achievements have undoubtedly contributed to the sport’s development in Denmark, particularly for female judoka. When asked how her persistence and success have influenced judo in Denmark, Sook humbly responded: “I am very shy to answer this but I hope I was able to contribute. Overall, I think we have had great developments in Denmark over the past, I would say, maybe 10 years or more. My teammate went to the Olympics twice. This was not in the cards for me, unfortunately but it is clear that there is a big development in Danish judo.”
In Podgorica, she was joined by several Danish judoka, including a teammate who finished in fifth place, further demonstrating the country’s growing presence in the sport. “There is more and more judoka in Denmark. It is developing and there are more and more girls competing. Today, I was fighting with my teammate in the semi-final and this is not an every day occurance, I think that’s a really great indication of development for Danish judo.”
It is also not everyday you see a Grand Prix medallist attending at a European Cup. Yet, Sook values these events; “I think they are very important, it is a great stage to gain experience and an important stepping stone to the European Open and the IJF World Tour.”
One of the key aspects of the widely recognised development has been the increase in sparring opportunities at home. Sook explains how training alongside her teammates and working with the Swedish national team weekly has improved preparation while reducing the need for extensive travel.“It has definitely helped. We have a lot more athletes now at a higher level. We are also doing more training camps at home, as well as our Nordic camps. But we still travel a lot because, like in every sport, everything is developing all the time, so it is a must. The OTCs (Olympic Training Camps) are crucial for our development and I think especially for small nations, it is really important to attend these camps. So travelling is inevitable but now there is more flexibility around it I would say.”
While Sook is taking her return one step at a time, the future remains open-ended. Whether another Olympic cycle or a European Championship appearance is in her plans has yet to be determined. As for the upcoming Senior European Championships in Podgorica in April, she remains undecided. For now, she continues to embrace the journey, taking each competition as it comes and remaining a key figure in Danish judo’s steady rise.
Author: Szandra Szogedi