In 2021, the European Judo Championships were held in Lisbon, Portugal. Not all who would compete in Tokyo later that summer were competing in the European major championships, in fact, some were still dying for the prestigious position in the Olympic Games.
Two of the fourteen champions in Lisbon, went on to make history and take glory in Tokyo; Lasha BEKAURI (GEO) and Distria KRASNIQI (KOS). For the young Georgian, there was a great deal of pressure to succeed in the European Championships as this win would decided who would have the Olympic spot between himself and Beka GVINIASHVILI, incredibly, the other finalist in Lisbon.
Not only was this priming event a predictor for these eventual champions, but European Judo could boast that another fourteen European Championship medallists triumphed to stand on the Olympic podium, rivalling the best athletes in the world.
| European Result | European Result | Olympic Result |
| Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA/-60kg) | Silver | Bronze |
| Vazha MARGVELASHVILI (GEO/-66kg) | Silver | Silver |
| Matthias CASSE (BEL/-81kg) | Silver | Bronze |
| TOTH Krisztián (HUN/-90kg) | Bronze | Bronze |
| Lukas KRPALEK (CZE/+100kg) | Bronze | Gold |
| Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO/+100kg) | Bronze | Silver |
| Daria BILODID (UKR/-48kg) | Silver | Bronze |
| Amandine BUCHARD (FRA/-52kg) | Gold | Silver |
| Odette GIUFFRIDA (ITA/-52kg) | Silver | Bronze |
| Nora GJAKOVA (KOS/-57kg) | Bronze | Gold |
| Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE (FRA/-57kg) | Bronze | Silver |
| Tina TRSTENJAK (SLO/-63kg) | Gold | Silver |
| Sanne VAN DIJKE (NED/-70kg) | Gold | Bronze |
| Madina TAIMAZOVA (AIN/-70kg) | Bronze | Bronze |
We wish the athletes in Zagreb the very best of luck and will them on to success in the Paris Olympic Games this summer.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen