European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Clean Sweep For IJF Team

The IJF Team snatched their bronze medal in the Mixed Team European Championships 2025, leaving no room for doubt about who should receive the award, winning four consecutive contests. Karen GALSTIAN (IJF) was in trouble against Bilal CILOGLU (TUR) in the opening contest, picking up two shidos, but as the…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

A Bronze For Germany

In the first of the bronze medal matches of the Mixed Team European Championships 2025, Germany were taking on the fairytale story that was Belgium. In their mixed team debut, Belgium had stunned teams including France for a chance to take bronze. In the end, the win went to Germany…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

An Unforgettable Success

As the 2025 European Judo Championships in Podgorica approached its final stages, Dr. Tóth László, President of the European Judo Union, reflected on what he described as an “unforgettable success.” Dr. Tóth shared his hope that this event will leave a strong legacy for judo’s growth in Montenegro. Dr. Tóth praised…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Mixed-Team Europeans Travels to Serbia

Serbia to Host the 2026 European Judo Championships Mixed Team Event. The official handover ceremony took place this afternoon in Podgorica, marking the conclusion of the 2025 European Championships. During the ceremony, Mr. Milovan Bratić, President of the Executive Board of the Serbian Judo Federation, proudly accepted the honour and…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Sulamanidze Versus Kotsoiev

There is no escaping that judo is a heartbreaking sport. All can be over in a matter of seconds after months, even years of preparation. Some judoka go head to head for their entire careers and the rivalry between Ilia SULAMANIDZE (GEO) and Zelym KOTSOIEV (AZE) looks set to be…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Italy Will Take On Georgia For Gold

As always, the Mixed Team European Championships is a huge celebration, the atmosphere in Podgorica, Montenegro was incredible during the preliminaries, and some big surprises made it all the more entertaining! For the first time, Belgium entered a team and in incredible fashion, defeated France in the repechage round to…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Belgium Creates Sensation in Podgorica

Author: Tatjana Flade Belgium’s very first mixed team has created a sensation at the European Judo Championships Seniors in Podgorica, Montenegro by advancing to the bronze medal match. They first beat the Netherlands before losing to Italy in the quarterfinal but then the Belgians overcame hot favorites France in the…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Fair Play Promotion In Podgorica

During the Senior European Judo Championships 2025, hundreds of children were present to witness history in the making and see first-hand, the respect and fair play on the tatami. However, it is both with and without a judogi we expect to live by our judo values. Co-chairs of the Fair…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Belgium’s Very First Mixed Team is Looking for a Name

Author: Tatjana Flade Belgium has produced many judo champions and has a long tradition in the sport. Now something new happened: The European Judo Championships Seniors in Podgorica, Montenegro, marked the debut of Belgium in the mixed team event. “It’s for the first time we have a mixed team,” new…

27 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Collections Grow And Records Broken

Patricia SAMPAIO (POR) ended up being the star of the show in the -78kg category, she had a tough opponent in Anna Monta OLEK (GER) who has been bounding up the ranks, but it was the Olympic bronze medallist who claimed the European title with a seoi nage. This year…

26 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Passing The Baton To Georgia

Though they have hosted two European Club Championships in 2015 and 2022, Georgia last hosted the Senior European Judo Championships in 2009 and claimed three medals from Varlam LIPARTELIANI (-90kg), Levan TSIKLAURI (-81kg) and Nestor KHERGIANI (-60kg). Already in the Podgorica, Georgia have won three medals, a title from the…

26 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Olympic Final Rematch On The Cards

Anna Monta OLEK (GER) is without a shadow of a doubt, Germany’s rising star and follows in the footsteps of Anna Maria WAGNER and Alina BOEHM, having chased both of them down in the run up to the Paris Olympic Games, finishing in the top 10 of the world ranking…

26 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Trautmann: "The goals for women’s judo in Azerbaijan have changed"  

Author: Tatjana Flade Judo powerhouse Azerbaijan keeps building and head coach Richard Trautmann has set his eyes firmly on the Olympic Games 2028 and that involves the development of women’s judo in the country. Trautmann, who has been working in Azerbaijan since March 2022 and was instrumental in guiding Hidayat…

26 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Headcoach Daniel Gürschner Likes Norwegian „Viking attitude“

Author: Tatjana Flade It has been a little over a year since former German top judoka and 1998 European Champion Daniel Gürschner took over as head coach in Norway. While winter sports thrive in the Scandinavian country, judo is a sport that still has lot of potential for development.  “I…

26 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Gala Dinner 2025

In the midst of the senior European Judo Championships 2025, the annual Gala Dinner took place with several distinguished guests, including Mr. Marius VIZER, President of the International Judo Federation; Dr. TOTH Laszlo, Vice-President of the International Judo Federation and President of the European Judo Union; and Mr. Jovica RECEVIC,…

25 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

The Grind Pays Dividends

Italy and Hungary jumped on the bandwagon of gold medal-winning nations on day three of the Senior European Judo Championships 2025. Both victories were groundbreaking but for different reasons. Yet, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start with the first bronze medal contest of the afternoon… -81kg category: “The…

25 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Relentless Rise Whilst Chasing Greatness

Day three of the Senior European Judo Championships 2025 in Podgorica featured action in the -70kg, -81kg, and -90kg categories. Here are the remaining six judoka still in competition for glory. OZBAS Szofi (HUN) continues to shine in the -70kg category, booking her place in yet another final, still, her…

25 April 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

Lavrentev: “I am a completely different fighter now”

Author: Tatjana Flade The morning after winning his first European Championship title Danil Lavrentev was right back on the mat in the warm up area as if nothing special had happened, training and helping his teammates to prepare for their competition. “I didn’t even yet answer all those people that…

25 April 2025