With a new cycle, changes are happening on and off the tatami, and one face we will no longer see on the tour is Swedish referee, Bjorn NYBERG.
Nyberg has been an active part of the EJU community since 2013 and is a well-known face on the international circuit for most referees and coaches, travelling around most European countries to attend European Cups and Opens for over a decade. In 2013, Nyberg passed his IJF-B Exam in 2013, attained his IJF-A License in 2017 and passed the exam for 6th Dan in 2023.
However, he recently decided to hang up his refereeing jacket for good.
I’m still younger than all Olympic referees from Europe, but with a new Olympic cycle, both with new rules and with many other things being equal, I decided it was time for a change to find new motivation within judo.
Bjorn was often selected by the EJU to referee in the European Championships, in total 20 of them
- 1 Senior (2020)
- 6 Junior (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)
- 2 EYOF (2017, 2019)
- 2 Mixed Teams (2021, 2022)
- 1 European Games/ Mixed Teams (2023)
- 3 Club teams (2016, 2017, 2021)
- 1 U23 (2015)
- 2 U18 (2015, 2016)
- 1 Small States (2024)
- 1 Open Championships (2023)
Bjorn was also given the chance to referee two Grand Slams and one Grand Prix event on the IJF World Judo Tour.
The best thing about being a referee is all the friends I’ve made from all around the world, and all the experiences that we’ve shared around our common passion. Many have become friends in private life too and I’m very thankful for that.
I always liked the combination of both pushing and preparing myself to perform at the highest European level, and at the same time being active and helpful to the less experienced European and Swedish referees. I’m thankful for the support and confidence given by the EJU over the years, and I hope I have been a good support for EJU and my refereeing colleagues over the years.
Nyberg comes from a successful Swedish club, IK Södra, known for fostering talents including; Marcus NYMAN, Elisabeth KARKLSSON and Tara BABULFATH, as well as pioneers within Adapted Judo with expert Tomas RUNDQUIST, a club that has had 4 IJF-A referees. The club was also pioneering for women’s judo, with head coach Ann LÖF participating at the first World Championships for women in 1980 (together with Jane BRIDGE who is now a coach for Sweden).
The EJU would like to wish Bjorn the best of luck in his endeavours, running both a consulting firm and business within the wine industry!
Author: Thea Cowen