Author: Žiga Košec
Valentine’s Day in Ljubljana was always destined to carry emotion but inside the Stožice Arena, the feeling was about far more than romance. It was about pride, passion and performing for the people who know you best. On the opening day of the Ljubljana European Open 2026, Kaja Kajzer and David Štarkel delivered exactly what the home crowd had hoped for, gold and silver respectively, turning the arena into a celebration of Slovenian judo.
Kajzer’s Golden Embrace
What could be better than victory in front of a home crowd?
“Nothing,” smiled Kajzer, moments after stepping off the top of the podium.
The 26-year-old from Ljubljana returned to the -63kg category at last year’s home tournament and this time she arrived as top seed, carrying both expectation and belief. She did not disappoint. With composure and authority, she went all the way to claim gold, and on Valentine’s Day, she won far more than a medal. She won the hearts of the Slovenian faithful.
Yet the day did not begin smoothly. “I didn’t sleep well,” Kajzer admitted honestly. “It showed in my first match when I had to break the ice but after that, everything started to flow.”
If last year’s edition felt heavy with pressure, this year felt different. “Last year I felt quite a bit of pressure because of the crowd but this time the home audience lifted me. I felt great seeing how much support I had and after the victory I was truly happy to share it with everyone.”
For the two-time Olympian, the victory marks a powerful start to a new season, with her eyes firmly set on a World Championship medal. There is also another milestone on the horizon: this summer, she will marry and compete under a double surname, a new chapter, both personally and professionally.
Štarkel’s Silver Reflection
It was not only Kajzer who ignited the arena. David Štarkel delivered a performance of maturity and grit, fighting his way to a silver medal, the finest result of his career at this level.
“When I stepped off the mat, I was a bit disappointed about losing the final,” he admitted. “But looking back now, if someone had offered me second place at my home tournament before the competition, I would have signed immediately.”
The 29-year-old already boasts four continental open bronze medals, but this silver felt different, achieved on home soil, under the roar of familiar voices. Like Kajzer, his day began far from ideal. “I didn’t feel great this morning, somehow sleepy, completely different from a week ago in Paris, where I felt excellent. Fortunately, it turned out well in the end, also thanks to the support of the home crowd.”
That support was unmistakable. Every attack, every defensive stand was met with thunderous encouragement. In Stožice, Štarkel was not alone on the tatami, he carried the energy of an entire arena.
Their story is far from over.
Author: EJU Media