There are many names synonymous with Georgian judo, but today, history was made by Eteri LIPARTELIANI who took the first ever women’s senior world championship medal. Not only that. It was gold.
Judo offers a rich history for Georgia, who lay claim to European, World and Olympic titles but to become the first of your nation is something else. Of course this isn’t the first time she has put women at the forefront of Georgian judo news. In 2019 she doubled up with Junior European and Junior World titles. It was a time when competitors around her truly saw her as a threat, her style was typical of the mens, her repertoire including huge “khabareli”, obi tori gaeshi that looked physically impossible.
Since these accomplishments she has been chipping away at the top women in her weight, claiming the European Open Championship title in 2023 – adding to her cadet, junior and U23 titles – this year taking a silver medal in the individual, only to go on to help her team to the Mixed Team gold!
So with all of these accomplishments, what does it mean to take the world title in Budapest?
Even now I cannot believe it, I cannot realise that I’m the first women’s World Champion in judo. For me this is a great result, im extremely happy and im happy because of my hard work, my dedication to judo. I did everything for this result and here I am, the first in the history of women’s judo.
How does this result differ from the junior world title in Marrakech?
Also in Marrakech when I became Junior World Champion I was the first! So now maybe I’m still thinking about that, I still feel like it was so close. Now to accept this feeling, a senior world title is something else, something special, I am the best in the whole world. It is extraordinary. It’s fantastic to write myself in to the history, it’s now the reality of my life.
Wherever we go on the World Judo Tour or European Tour, Georgian fans arrive in their droves to cheer on their judoka, and today was of course no different. Not only did Liparteliani have her team mates and best friends here, but husband, Temur NOZADZE.
Of course many thanks to all Georgian supporters, the audience, we saw so many spectators and it was beautiful. Thank you to the Georgian Judo Federation, to my coaches, to my team mates, and of course, a special thanks to my husband. If not for him, it might not have been possible. It has been a team effort, I became champion because of our work together. He has helped me so much during this period and I wish for him to become a world champion in the future.
What were the thoughts as she left the tatami to the sea of Georgian flags and overjoyed faces?
It was like a dream, I just realised afterwards that I won against the Japanese athlete, but to win against her in the final of the World Championships, the feeling is extraordinary. I’m in a dream, but I’m living it.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen