European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland
For Tara BABULFATH of Sweden, 2024 has been a wild ride. Claiming her first Grand Slam, Grand Prix, Senior World Championships medals, and then the cherry on the cake, an Olympic bronze medal. It was a fairytale experience unlike no other, however it could have all come crashing down. It…
16 November 2024European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland
Opening day one of the U23 European Championships were the -48kg women. Current Olympic bronze medallist, Tara BABULFATH (SWE) battled it out against Giulia GHIGLIONE (ITA) for the U23 title, after already enduring a 10 minute contest in the semi final with Ghiglione’s team mate and eventual bronze medallist, Asia…
15 November 2024European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland
For most, the pick of the day in the -48kg was Tara BABULFATH (SWE). Already having transitioned on to the senior circuit and claiming IJF World Tour medals, the 18 year old went on to claim an Olympic bronze in Paris this year. However her return to the tatami after…
15 November 2024Open European II Judo Championships (Intellectual Impairment) 2024 - Venray, Netherlands
Though we are in the midst of the U23 European Championships in Pila, Poland, we are also looking forward to a brand new prime event in the European Judo Union calendar, the European Championships for Intellectually Impaired. Next week in Venray, where the Get Together events began for adapted judoka,…
15 November 2024Riga European Judo Hopes Cup & Technical Session Kodokan Experts - Riga, Latvia
The European Judo Hopes Cup and Technical Session with Kodokan Experts is concluding the year of 2024 in Riga. Over the past months, this has been an incredible addition to the EJU Calendar, giving unrivalled opportunity to young athletes from around Europe. The Kodokan expert invited to this event is…
15 November 2024EJU Ordinary Congress - Budapest, Hungary
The countdown to the 76th EJU Congress in Budapest on 23 November is entering the hot phase. The conference venue is the Hilton Castle Hotel in the Buda district. Almost 200 guests from 47 nations have registered so far. EJU President László Tóth (HUN) is the only candidate standing for…
14 November 2024European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland
The European Judo Union are the only continental union to host this particular level of event. The purpose of cadet, junior and now the ‘Hopes’ events, is for the development of athletes in Europe. We are very fortunate that the popular events attract judoka from all over the world, which…
14 November 2024Dr. Pinelopi STAVRINOU, a former Cypriot judoka and current sport scientist with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, recently took on a new role as the anti-doping representative of the European Judo Union and with that became one of the Clean Judo Educators who support their respective continent. With her dual…
13 November 2024Mia and Lana’s Inspiring Journey of Resilience Through Judo
Born prematurely, twin sisters Mia and Lana Mićanović faced immense challenges from the start. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, their journey has been one of perseverance, as their parents, Darko and his wife, committed their lives to the girls’ intensive therapies and care. Yet, it was a chance encounter with judo…
12 November 2024Rome European Open 2024 - Rome, Italy
During the final block on day two of the Rome European Open, it was announced that referee, Thom Hallum would be retiring from his duties as a Continental Referee. Of course it was an emotional day for me, I feel like I shouldn’t stop but I am at the age…
12 November 2024"Kata and Shiai are Like The Wings of an Airplane."
Renowned for her illustrious career in competitive judo, Olympic, World and European champion, Tina TRSTENJAK has been embracing a new challenge in recent years: mastering Kodokan kata through her role in the IJF Academy. Despite her outstanding elite career, there were no bypass or corners cut, she embraced the journey…
11 November 2024Las Vegas World Championships Kata 2024
The Las Vegas World Judo Championships Kata 2024 have concluded, celebrating new world champions across eight categories. Raul CAMACHO, the IJF Kata Sport Director, reflects on the event and highlights a key aspect of kata competitions: the judges’ role. A seasoned competitor himself, Camacho is a triple world medalist in…
11 November 2024Györ Cadet European Cup 2024 - Györ, Hungary
“The numbers prove us right,” says EJU President László TOTH. 563 judoka from 27 nations took part in the Cadet European Cup in Györ (HUN). ‘We organised a youth tournament for the first time in 2017. This year was the sixth time the tournament has been held, and each time…
10 November 2024Rome European Open 2024 - Rome, Italy
It was a tough start to the final block on day two of the Rome European Open 2024, with an all-Georgian final in the -81kg category between Vladimir AKHALKATSI and Irakli BEROSHVILI. It started as a cagey contest, both aware of the others abilities, but it was Beroshvili that truly…
10 November 2024Rome European Open 2024 - Rome, Italy
There has been much speculation regarding rule changes, and unfortunately that’s all we can continue to do until next month when the official new rules are released by the International Judo Federation. After already a great deal of deliberation, national federations, coaching commissions and unions were invited to give their…
10 November 2024Györ Cadet European Cup 2024 - Györ, Hungary
The first day of the Gyor Cadet European Cup 2024 saw the host nation, Hungary, surpass all others, claiming the top spot in the overall standings with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Ukraine (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and Poland (1 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze)…
9 November 2024Réka PUPP helps as volunteer in Györ
Around 50 volunteers are on duty at the Cadet European Cup in Györ. Among them is Réka PUPP, third at the European Championships, fifth at the Olympics in Paris and fifth at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, currently the best judoka in the host country. During a lunch break,…
9 November 2024Rome European Open 2024 - Rome, Italy
The initial final on day one of the Rome European Open 2024 was between top seed of the -63kg category, Natalia KROPSKA (POL) and Laura VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ (ESP). In the first exchange, Kropska shocked her opponent, scoring a waza ari. Following this, the pair spent a great deal of time…
9 November 2024
European Judo Championships U23 2024