Italy secured three golds, one silver, and one bronze medal, marking their presence in every category contested on the opening day of the European Judo Championships Kata Riga 2025. France claimed the remaining two gold medals and added a bronze, proudly singing La Marseillaise during the medal ceremonies.
“It is like double gold medal.”
Mauro Collini and Tommaso Rondinini of Italy delivered an outstanding performance in the Nage-no-Kata finals, earning top honours with a total score of 397.5 points. Their gold medal marks a remarkable return to form, especially after a difficult injury setback. Rondinini shared the emotional significance of their victory:
“I feel fantastic. This is our fourth time competing at the European Championships [after injury], and to win gold after everything is just beautiful. I broke my leg during training for the World Championships a few years ago, and at that time, we didn’t know if I could come back. So to be standing here now with gold, it is beyond expectations.”
The pair have been practising together since 2010, demonstrating both technical excellence and deep partnership. “We have worked on Nage-no-Kata together since the beginning,” Rondinini explained. “There were changes early on, at first, we had reversed roles, but eventually our coaches suggested we make a switch, and it proved the right choice.” Their track record includes two previous European golds, but this is their first since Rondinini’s injury. “This medal feels like a double gold, one for the performance, and one for the comeback,” he added.
Collini also reflected on the day: “It is an amazing feeling. After four years, to see Tommaso back and performing like this is fantastic. It is been a long road, and today is just a great day.” Not content to rest on their success, Collini was already preparing for the next challenge, partnering with one of his adapted judoka student in a different kata division the following day. “Yes, I will be competing again tomorrow with one of my students. If everything goes well, we will perform in three kata categories. It is a great opportunity to continue sharing this journey.”
“There is no magic.”
With a total score of 513.5 points, Gregory Marques and Stéphane Bega (FRA) secured their fourth consecutive European title in the Kime-no-Kata division, a remarkable achievement that speaks to their consistency, dedication, and passion for kata.
“We are very happy,” said Marques with a smile. “Another gold medal, it’s never easy. We always have to work hard, so I’m really pleased with the result.” For Bega, this year’s victory carried added meaning. “Yes, this one feels special,” he shared. “I was injured back in January and I am still recovering, so to come out of that and win this medal, we are just really, really happy.”
When asked about the secret to their ongoing success, both were quick to dismiss any notion of shortcuts. “There’s no magic,” said Marques. “It is all about hard work, no secrets. Just training, dedication, and consistency. In the run-up to a competition, we train four or five times a week. Afterwards, we might take small breaks, but we keep the rhythm going year-round.”
Their partnership is made easier by proximity, both train at the Albi Judo Club, allowing for regular practice and strong team cohesion. Despite years of titles, Bega’s passion remains undiminished. “I still have the same desire to practise. Of course, the medals help, but it’s really about passion. I never want to stop. We will continue, we are here this year, and we will be here next year too.”
With the Kata World Championships in France on the horizon, their motivation is clear. “Yes, we will be working hard. We will be ready,” they affirmed. “We competed in the very first Coupe du Monde in Paris back in 2008 and now we will be back for the Worlds.”
“It is like a dream.”
Nicolas Fourmaux and Jean Daniel Nguyen Van Loc of France delivered a stunning performance in the Katame-no-Kata finals, narrowly defeating long-time favourites, the Gilon brothers of Belgium. The French pair claimed the gold with a margin of just 0.5 points, a result that highlights the high level of competition in this category.
Speaking after the win, Fourmaux shared his emotions: “It’s incredible, like a dream. I am not even sure it’s real yet. This is our first time winning gold.” The pair are no strangers to the podium, having previously earned two silver medals and one bronze at the European level. However, the gold simply taste different. “We have been practising together for ten years. To finally win gold after so much time and work, it is just amazing.”
Reflecting on the razor-thin victory over the Belgian brothers, widely regarded as the top competitors in the category, Fourmaux acknowledged the significance of the moment. “They are great champions, the best in our category. To finally come out ahead, even by just half a point, it’s an incredible feeling. I think it’s the first time they have lost the gold.”
When asked what made the difference on the day, he smiled: “Honestly, we are not sure. Maybe it was just a good feeling, a good connection. Maybe it’s something about Riga, it brought us luck.” The pair now have their sights set on the World Championships in France, where they hope to build on their success.
“This one is for our father.”
Sibling success was on display in the Ju-no-Kata category as Giovanni Tarabelli and Angelica Tarabelli of Italy earned a total of 401.0 points, narrowly edged out by their formidable German counterparts by just a single point.
“It’s an incredible emotion,” said Angelica. “After ten years of training and competing together, this result feels like the final step of a long journey. It’s a moment of real satisfaction. Our first gold came after the pandemic but the field was small then. This one is different. The level was high, with so many strong pairs, and that makes this victory even more meaningful.”
“For years we have lost by one point, now the result has finally flipped in our favour. To win against such experienced competitors, including an eighth dan German pair, is truly special. I am fifth dan, Giovanni is sixth and this shows how far we have come together.
“We train three times a week, and on weekends if we are free, sometimes Saturday mornings or Sundays, depending on whether we have competitions with the children we coach. It is not always easy to find time, but we stay committed.
“This medal is especially for our father. He turned 90 just a few days ago. He is not in the best health, but when we bring the medal home, I know he will hold it tightly and be proud. That makes it all the more special for us as siblings.”
Flawless Final
Marika Sato and Fabio Polo of Italy claimed the top spot in the Kodokan Goshin Jutsu category, scoring a total of 522.5 points. The pair delivered a standout performance in the final round, marking a triumphant return to the top of the podium.
Sato, visibly elated after the event, shared her reaction: “I am very, very, very happy,” – she laughed joyfully. “Over the past two months, we worked hard, training twice a week, which isn’t easy because Fabio and I live quite far from each other, about 100 kilometres apart, but we made it work, and our preparation paid off.”
Reflecting on their journey from Sarajevo 2024 to Riga 2025, Sato noted subtle but important changes. “We corrected four or five small mistakes, really small details and in the final today, our focus was 100%. In the preliminary round, we were a bit too relaxed but in the final, the concentration was perfect. For me, this was one of the best performances of my life.”
The pair last stood on top of the podium in 2023 in Slovenia, making this gold medal a particularly meaningful comeback after finishing fourth in 2024. Sato’s partner, Fabio Polo, echoed the sentiment and highlighted the growing challenge of staying on top. “Last year was a tough one for us,” Polo admitted.
“This is actually our seventh European gold medal, but each one feels more difficult to achieve. The standard of kata is improving every year, and that makes each title harder to win. Today, I believe we performed our best kata ever. In the preliminary round, we came second, but in the final, everything came together. It was the perfect kata, better than we have ever done in the past.”
At the start of the opening ceremony, a Croatian team delivered an ENBU demonstration, marking their presence through an honorary performance due to the absence of opponents in their category. The ceremony continued with warm and encouraging speeches from Kristiina Pekkola, EJU Vice President and Vsevolods Zelonijs, President of the Latvian Judo Federation. Both emphasised the importance of kata as a discipline rooted in tradition, harmony, and respect.
Full results can be found here. The second day of the event will feature the remaining competitions, including cadets, juniors, and adapted judo participants. Follow all the action live at judotv.com.
Author: Szandra Szogedi