In the tapestry of global sport, some stories shimmer quietly, away from the limelight, but resonate with a depth and power that cannot be ignored. Katerina Nikoloska, the first-ever Olympian from North Macedonia in judo, is one such story. A judoka, a pioneer, a teacher, a referee, and above all, a dreamer who never let circumstance dim her vision.
We sat down with Katerina in her homeland, during a landmark event, the Millennium Team European Judo Championships Cadets 2025, held for the first time in North Macedonia. Her presence here, both as a referee and as a beacon of inspiration, adds poignancy to the moment. She shared her story, which is built on sacrifice, quiet determination, and the ripple effect one person can have on a nation’s sporting identity.
The First Olympian
“Yes, I am the first-ever Olympian for North Macedonia in judo. I competed in the Rio Olympic Games 2016,” she says with modest pride. That sentence alone would mark a lifetime achievement for many, but for Katerina, it was only a chapter in a far longer and richer narrative.
We rewind to her early years. “I can say that judo has now developed in my country more than when I was a child. Even that shows in the increased number of participants in national championships. Although with all these European Cups, now this week’s historic continental championships, and also with the participation at the Olympic Games, mine and two other athletes from Macedonia, it really helps to promote judo in the country as an individual sport.”
In a nation where wrestling holds the historical spotlight and taekwondo has also found success, judo’s path has been more challenging. Yet, thanks to figures like Katerina, that path is clearer now. “When I was a kid, as usual, we travelled a lot. We brought experience home,” she recalls. “As a cadet, there were no proper competitions at home. We didn’t have the opportunity to compete in our country as cadets to the level we have now. We went to small tournaments around Macedonia, but not to the standard of a European Cup. Times are different now, and it is both a privilege and a huge opportunity for the younger generation to grow and develop.”
Evidently, Katerina never had the opportunity to compete on home soil at an international event, so in a way, this week’s refereeing is a personal debut in itself. As she reflects on this fact, her voice softens. “I am jealous. A little bit. I wish I could have started at cadet level at home and competed with my teammates at that age, to have my family here with me also.”
Still, the pride in her achievements shines through. “I am truly happy that all the work I gave myself, my coach, my team, and the country to develop the sport to this level makes me happy. I hope that young athletes are going to follow that way.” Amongst the youth, she has become a storyteller in her own right, sharing her journey with younger generations, how she started, how she progressed, how many wins and losses she experienced. “What I learned,” she says simply. “Is what I hope to pass on.”
Her message to the young ones is heartfelt: “To dream. To never stop doing what they want. To believe in themselves. To work together with their colleagues in the club, with the coaches. To go to as many competitions and training camps as possible. To visit a lot of people outside of the country and to connect with them, and at the end, to develop as a good athlete, but most importantly, to develop as a better person.”
A Life Beyond the Mat, Almost…
Off the tatami, Katerina is equally engaged. She teaches physical education in a primary school and coaches young judoka. Her days are full, her heart fuller. Then there is refereeing, her new chapter. Essentially, she is still on the mat, in the spot light, but in a different uniform. “I didn’t think about it like that, and yet, I have a goal with this, too.” She laughs before explaining how she applies that same vision to refereeing as to her elite career. “I am trying to repeat the process. To say, okay, I have a dream, and I will work and try to be there.” That dream? “Yes, the Olympic Games, again but this time, as a referee.”
It must be pointed out that Katerina is the highest-level referee in North Macedonia. Yet again, her achievement indicates a new path she is laying for future generations to walk. The progress? Very much visible: “I have the international licence and I started the IJF Tour this year. When I entered the arena at the Baku Grand Slam this year, for the first time as a referee, all my emotions from my athlete career came back. I was like, wow, what’s going on? I was a little nervous, but with the support of experienced referees, I became more calm and confident as we should be.”
Throughout the whole interview, Katerina remained modest despite her achievements. She was next asked: Do you ever think how much you have done for this sport in your country?
“Well,” she says softly, eyes welling, “my tears are coming when you say it like that, yes. I don’t know. It’s just a role like that. In life, you plan some things and some things you don’t. I was always part of judo and I never thought to stop it. Can I say I see this as a kind of career? Yes, it’s a hobby, because we need a job besides this, but the judo family gives us a platform to develop, not just as athletes or officials but as people.”
She continues. “Now, I am on ‘the other side’, and I am really proud and happy that I can invest myself in the young generations and give something to the sport because judo gave me a lot.”
As the cadet athletes compete in Skopje, Katerina stands on the edge, a guide, a protector of fair play, a witness to new beginnings. Her presence here, still active in the sport, fills her with gratitude. “I would be proud even if I was only watching from the stands but I am truly happy I am still on the mat, still here, representing my country at home. I want to thank everyone who was helping me on my way to the Olympic Games and now in my refereeing journey.”
Lastly, if there is one final hope, it’s that her nation’s young judoka will not only follow the path she paved but blaze their own with the same resilience and heart that carried her all the way to Rio and beyond:
“I hope to see them winning medals on the biggest stage.”
Images: Gabi Juan / Carlos Ferreira
Author: Szandra Szogedi