The team event at the Games of the Small States of Europe 2025 proved to be a truly exhilarating occasion, with a vibrant crowd roaring in celebration of the athletes’ performances. The atmosphere was further elevated by the presence of distinguished guests, including His Excellency Joan Enric Vives, Bishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra; Mr Xavier Espot Zamora, Prime Minister of Andorra and Mr Gabriel Guerrero, esteemed member of the National Olympic Committee of Andorra.
The women’s team event saw Liechtenstein power their way to the final with impressive victories over Andorra and Montenegro. There, they faced the reigning 2023 GSSE team champions, Monaco, who proved utterly dominant throughout each round and maintained their formidable form in the final. Nonetheless, the silver medal represents a remarkable achievement for the Liechtenstein team, who competed with just two judoka. The bronze medals were awarded to Luxembourg and Iceland, both of whom displayed commendable performances.
Icelandic judoka Helena Bjarnadóttir expressed her delight following her team’s bronze medal victory: “I am incredibly proud of our team today for securing the bronze in this competition. It was a tough day but a truly great one. I am especially grateful for the support from my teammates throughout the journey to the bronze medal match. I hope that in two years’ time, we can aim for gold. For now, I am simply proud of everyone and very happy with what we have achieved together.”
Monaco continued their remarkable run in the men’s team event, advancing round by round with confident victories over Luxembourg and Andorra to secure their place in the final. There, they faced a formidable Montenegrin side. Undeterred by the depth and strength of their opponents, the Monaco team rose to the occasion and sealed the event in golden glory. The bronze medals were awarded to Cyprus and Liechtenstein, both delivering strong performances throughout the competition.
François Bick, Head Coach of the Monaco team, shared his joy following the medal ceremony:
“It is absolutely amazing. This is exactly what we came here for and I believe everyone was determined to achieve it. Of course, nothing is guaranteed on paper, we knew it would be a tough contest, particularly among the men. Montenegro were strong but we were prepared. The team delivered when it mattered the most and it was a fantastic experience overall.
“It’s been a long time since we had both our men’s and women’s teams reach the podium, so this result is especially meaningful. Now, we aim to continue improving. It is not easy but we will work hard to ensure we have competitive athletes in every weight category, with the hope of winning even more medals. We have a young team, and I am confident we will be back, stronger than ever, in two years’ time.“
It must not go unnoticed that the Liechtenstein judo team reached the podium in both the men’s and women’s team events, a testament to the federation’s steady and promising development. Mr Ivan Kaufmann, President of the Liechtenstein Judo Federation, followed the competition closely throughout the day, visibly engaged and passionately cheering on his teams.
Following the conclusion of the event, Mr Kaufmann shared his reflections:
“I couldn’t be happier. I must admit, I was a little disappointed the day before yesterday, we had hoped for two gold medals, and in the end, came away with none. But today’s results have certainly helped to fill that gap, and we will travel home satisfied, even if not completely content.
“During the final, especially when the men secured the bronze, I felt quite emotional. With the women’s team, we already knew we at least have a medal when they made it to the final, but for the men, it was less certain. In particular, the final contest was remarkable, a very senior athlete, no longer regularly competing, stepped up and delivered an outstanding performance. I am extremely proud of that.
“I would like to sincerely thank the organisers. The atmosphere and the overall organisation were exceptional, it was a truly fantastic event.”
Although Andorra narrowly missed out on medals in the team competition, their participation in the judo event at the Games of the Small States of Europe 2025 was nonetheless a commendable success. Mr Alfred Pla Garcia, President of Andorran judo, shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and the broader impact of the event:
“It is a bittersweet feeling. We came very close to winning bronze in the team event, which makes it all the more disappointing. The athletes worked incredibly hard, just as the other teams did, so the competition was extremely tough. Still, I am satisfied overall. The organisation was excellent, and in the end, I am happy.”
Reflecting on the importance of the event for the development of judo in Andorra, Mr Pla Garcia added:
“Events like this are essential, they give visibility to judo, especially among those who don’t practise the sport. It also raises awareness within government circles. As we know, judo is an exceptional discipline, even recognised by UNESCO as the best sport for children. As an ambassador for judo in Andorra, I do my best to promote the sport, particularly to government officials and in schools. I believe this event will help us gain more support. All in all, we have taken many positives from this experience, and we are happy.”
Author: Szandra Szogedi