The final rounds of the ne-waza event brought a dynamic close to the morning session on the last day of the European Judo Championships Veterans Riga 2025. Gold medals were proudly claimed by athletes from a wide range of nations, proving that the level of competition is fierce and inspiring across all divisions.
Just before the break, and with the individual contests concluded, a special moment took place: the top three nations in the overall medal standings were presented with a commemorative medal collection, honouring their collective achievements and celebrating the spirit of this unforgettable championship. France unsurprisingly topped the overall medal table, finishing the championships with an impressive haul of 27 gold, 29 silver, and 39 bronze medals. Georgia secured a strong second place (13-14-14), while Germany completed the podium in third (12-9-18).
The final block of the team events opened with the 50+ team category (TF50), where Czechia delivered a standout performance to claim the women’s team title. Remarkably, the team consisted of just three judoka for their final round, meaning a perfect record was essential and they delivered, winning every contest to secure the gold with a flawless 100% success rate. Italy held strong to secure their bronze medal, capping off their campaign with a hard-fought and well-deserved place on the podium.
In the men’s 50+ team event (TM50), France overcame Portugal in a hard-fought final. The decisive moment came from David Babise, who secured the winning score and sealed victory for the French team. Finland and Georgian claimed bronzes, respectively.
France continued their triumphant run in the TF30 women’s team final, delivering a commanding performance against Italy. With the first three judoka securing victories, the result was a clean sweep, Sorraya Bekkouche sealing the decisive win in style. Germany also celebrated success, claiming the bronze medal and a proud place on the podium. In the TM30 men’s event, it was Georgia’s dominance on full display, with two Georgian teams reaching the final, guaranteeing gold for the nation. Poland and Belgium completed the podium, each earning well-deserved bronze medals after strong performances throughout the day.
And so, it all came down to the final event of the championships, the TFM40 mixed team final. Last year’s champions, Finland, returned to defend their title, facing a determined and fearless French team. The contest began on equal footing, with both nations earning early wins.
Yet, it was France who soon found their rhythm, delivering a series of strong performances to take control of the match. The golden moment belonged to Mélanie Machy, who sealed the victory and secured a spectacular finish for the French team. Spain and Portugal also had reason to celebrate, each earning a well-deserved bronze medal to round off an unforgettable day of team judo.
Ciril Kaba, French judoka and coach, selflessly poured not only his heart but countless hours of preparation into ensuring that 12 French teams were entered across five divisions for the team events. His dedication, entirely voluntary, was evident in every detail of their presence.
Following the final medal ceremony and one last stirring rendition of La Marseillaise, he shared his emotions with mesmerised eyes and an unshakable smile, reflecting the pride and joy of a truly unforgettable achievement.
“I feel absolutely wonderful, what a day! So many French teams, so many medals… it’s just fantastic. I love the spirit, I love the atmosphere, I love everything about it. It has been a truly great experience.
“Bringing together 12 strong teams here wasn’t easy. When you are organising multiple teams from the same country, it can be complicated, someone wants to be in one team, someone else in another. There are always challenges and choices to make, but honestly, I love it. I really do.
“I started preparing months ago, recruiting, calling, messaging, planning. It takes real organisation. I have spent countless hours on the phone, talking things through, making decisions. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes less so, but that’s life.
“The fact that I have done all of this as a volunteer never really crosses my mind. I love seeing everyone happy, not just the fighters, but the entire French family. Sometimes we have husbands, wives, grandparents, children all here together, supporting each other and when they are all smiling, I feel fulfilled. My heart is full. I am already looking ahead to next year, and I am ready to help make it an even more unforgettable experience.”
Finally, Ronnie Saez, EJU Education Director and in charge of veterans, reflected on the event: “This event has been a fantastic celebration of judo. We have had over 800 judoka competing, with some taking part in ne-waza, tachi-waza, and also the team competition.
“There have been great opportunities for judoka to engage in all aspects of the sport. The organisation has been outstanding, and the Latvian Judo Federation have been exceptional hosts. The hospitality shown to everyone involved has been excellent. We leave Latvia with a strong sense of accomplishment, having brought together the European judo veterans community and provided them with a truly enjoyable experience.
“As announced earlier, next year this tournament will be held in France. Previous European Veteran Championships hosted there have seen participation numbers well in excess of one thousand, so we are expecting record numbers once again. While the host city is yet to be confirmed, we aim to recapture the Olympic spirit we experienced in Paris last year.
“We also have plans for the European Veterans Tour. We are currently exploring new venues, in new countries and regions that have not yet hosted events in the first two years. We will be spending time identifying the most suitable locations and reaching out to potential hosts to involve them in the continued growth of the European Veterans Tour.”
The remaining official EJU veteran events this year are the European Cup in Maintal, Germany (27–28 September) and in Jelsa, Croatia (4–5 October). Both will serve as ideal preparation for the Veteran World Judo Championships, scheduled to take place from 3 to 7 November 2025 in Paris, France.
Author: Szandra Szogedi