Aleksei Budõlin is an Estonian judo legend, winner of a bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He went on to work as a national coach in Estonia, officially leaving the country in 2017. Following the Rio 2016 Olympics, he began collaborating with the Swiss national team, embarking on a new chapter in his career that took him across Europe. A year after beginning his work in Switzerland, Budõlin moved with his family, fully embracing his new role and life abroad.
Despite his relocation, Budõlin’s connection to Estonia remained strong. He returns to his homeland once or twice a year to visit family and friends, although his involvement with Estonian judo is now limited to observing the performance of the country’s athletes from a distance. Reflecting on the evolution of the sport in Estonia, he notes, “Times are different, and judo is also different.”
Budõlin takes pride in seeing the progress of Estonian judo, especially noting the large number of athletes able to compete internationally. “I am very glad that our Estonian team can travel with a large amount of athletes and there are some good cadets growing up. We have a future,” he says. He acknowledges the diverse paths and goals of athletes but is particularly pleased with the emergence of young, motivated coaches in Estonia who dare to dream big and strive for high-level results.
Estonia has hosted several judo events in recent years, reflecting the growth and ambition of the national federation. Budõlin sees this as a positive sign of the federation’s capacity and commitment to the sport. “It is great that the Estonian Judo Federation has the capacity and people to hold such events. Hopefully, one day we will also host the senior European championships!” he exclaims.
Currently, Budõlin is watching the junior Europeans from a distance, yet closely following the performance of not only Estonian and Swiss athletes but also those from Italy, Poland and other nations with athletes he has come to know. As a seasoned observer, he keeps an eye on potential future competitors, creating awareness that today’s juniors are tomorrow’s senior champions.
As the latest championships unfold, Budõlin extends his best wishes to all athletes, encouraging them to perform at their best. “I would like to wish all the athletes at this championship to be able to show the maximum they are capable of and let the winner be the one who is most prepared for the competition today!”
Images: IJF & Paco Lozano
Author: Szandra Szogedi