In a dazzling display of discipline and determination, Garayalde Elorza claimed his sixth European title in the M7 -60kg category on the first day of the Veteran European Judo Championships Riga 2025. For the Spanish judoka, who first stepped onto a tatami at the age of six, judo is far more than a sport.
Reflecting on the day, he said, “I feel very good. I had a few fights, performed well, and I am happy with the result.” The understatement is typical of a man who trains daily, often after long shifts at a paper mill in San Sebastián, the city he is called home for decades. This wasn’t Elorza’s first dance with continental glory. “This is my sixth European championships win,” he said with a quiet pride and the hunger hasn’t faded. “I train every day to feel good, to push myself and to arrive in top form for these events.”
That relentless drive has brought him not just European titles, but three world championships medals as well. For a man who began judo on a doctor’s recommendation to tame childhood nerves, it’s a career forged through passion, sweat and consistency. In Spain, Elorza is part of a vibrant veteran judo community that thrives on camaraderie and shared goals. “It’s like a family,” he explained. “We train together, support each other. There are five national veteran tournaments each year, the Copas de España, and the federation organises training camps too. The support is there.”
When asked what keeps him coming back to the mat, even after decades in the sport, his answer is immediate and heartfelt: “Because I love it. I don’t do anything else besides work and judo. For me, judo is like a drug. I need it. If I don’t train, something is missing.”
At 60kg, Garayalde Elorza may not be the largest man in the hall but few carry as much weight in experience, legacy and pure dedication. Today in Riga, that gold medal didn’t just recognise a day’s victory, it honoured a lifetime devoted to the martial art he simply can’t live without.
Author: Szandra Szogedi