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All in the -70kg category should be wary of one of the newest arrivals to the mix, OZBAS Szofi (HUN). After moving from the -63kg category where she became a World bronze medallist in 2023, and narrowly missed out on a European medal in the same year. Though she was medalling on the IJF World Judo Tour and certainly running in the top group, it wasn’t until she ventured in to the -70kg in 2024 that the Grand Slam golds began rolling in. In back to back events; Baku and Tbilisi she left victorious, defeating European Champions, world and Olympic medallists on her way.
Younger threat will come from the likes of 2024 Cadet European Champion, Aleksandra ANDRIC (SRB) who also medalled in the Junior European Championships and has since gone on to take senior medals. Sitting just atop of Andric is the 2019 World silver medallist, Barbara TIMO (POR), who in the past cycle competed in the -63kg category. Back in the category where she found most success, it will be interesting to see how she fares, especially chasing team mate Tais PINA who is in the top eight. Still with the new generation, we have Junior World and European Champions; Elena DENGG (AUT) and April Lynn FOHOU (SUI) in the mix.
Leading the category in absence of her team mate, the 2024 European and Olympic Champion, Barbara MATIC (CRO) is world ranked #2, Lara CVJEKTO, followed by the Montpellier European Champion, Marie Eve GAHIE (FRA). The 2024 World silver medallist didn’t manage to achieve her dream of an Olympic medal in front of the home crowd, but since returned to the Grand Slam and gave them the show they’d been looking for, and now she is hunting down a third senior European title.
Olympic silver medallist, Miriam BUTKEREIT (GER) has reserved the third seeded position in Podgorica, and despite her numerous results on the IJF World Judo Tour, up until this point, a European medal has escaped her. Quite the opposite is Sanne VAN DIJKE (NED), with two senior titles, three senior silver and one bronze. The Dutch powerhouse has proven herself on the World and Olympic stage and now she looks to continue her impressive collection.
Last year, it was Elisavet TELTSIDOU (GRE) who was forced to settle for the silver, losing out to Matic, but above her in #5 position, is Ai TSUNODA ROUSTANT (ESP) who took bronze in the same event. This year however, she doubled up on her Paris Grand Slam gold medals, and came across much more confident and comfortable on the tatami, perhaps as a result of her relocation to Japan where she is studying and training.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen