It’s been 41 years since a woman judoka from Liechtenstein last graced the tatami at a World Judo Championships, namely, Birgit Blum. That long silence was broken on 15 June 2025, when 20-year-old Lea Wyss stepped onto the mat in Budapest in the -57kg category, a powerful and symbolic moment not only for her, but for an entire judo community back home.
Born and raised in Liechtenstein but now based in Switzerland, Wyss carried the weight of history with grace and determination. Though her debut ended in an early exit, the young judoka gave a clear signal: she is here, she is serious, and she is just getting started.
“It was a really nice experience overall,” she said moments after stepping off the mat, still processing the whirlwind of emotions. “The venue is huge, and you see so many top athletes. I was nervous, of course, but it was amazing to stand on the tatami at this level.”
Wyss started strong, scoring a yuko early in her bout against Hasret Bozkurt (TUR), a flash of brilliance that lit up her corner. “I was surprised, but happy!” she laughed. “Sadly, it didn’t last until the end. I made some mistakes… I didn’t follow through on my attacks but with more experience, I think I will handle it better.”
Experience is exactly what she is after. Next up is the junior Europeans, where she will take this valuable taste of senior-level competition with her. “This gives me real confidence for the junior events,” she said. “Fighting four minutes against a senior-level opponent showed me that I belong here.”
Her dream? Los Angeles 2028 and not just to appear but to qualify on merit. “I want earn my place by points, not with a wildcard, but because I earned my place.”
Looking closely from the stands, supporting her in Budapest was Ivan Kaufmann, President of the Liechtenstein Judo Federation. Following few years at the helm, he has learned the importance of balancing ambition with realism.
“My original goal was to win Liechtenstein’s first Olympic medal in judo,” he admitted with a smile. “But I have had to learn to be a bit more modest. Now, the goal is to have our first athlete qualify outright for the Olympic Games, without needing a wildcard.”
Still, Lea Wyss’s performance left him more than satisfied. “Considering her current world ranking, I think she did very well. She fought bravely, with joy and openness. Watching the fight, I wouldn’t have said her opponent dominated at all. We were all happy. She stepped onto that mat with nothing to lose and everything to gain and she made us proud.”
In a world dominated by powerhouse nations, this was a moment of pure judo spirit, quiet, determined, and full of promise. Liechtenstein may be small but their return to the world stage is no small matter.
The story has only just begun.
Images: Bor Veronika
Author: Szandra Szogedi