These quiet summer days are usually used for training camps, like currently at the popular Casteldefels (ESP). But also used for the European Youth Olympic Days. Every two years organized in July, last year in Tampere (FIN).
Exactly 15 years ago the EYOD was organized in Bath where an exceptional strong list of participants was gathered in England. At that moment we didn’t realise that some of the medalists would become World Champion or even win Olympic medals.
Gold medalist in 1995 in Bath was Belgian Ann Simons, who now retired but won the Olympic bronze in Sydney U48kg.
More gold medalists were among others Kenji Uematsu (ESP) and later European Champion Martin Padar (EST).
In 1995 Yahaira Aguirre, who’s still active for Spain, was too strong for the later World Champion and double Olympic medalist Edith Bosch (NED), both ages 30 now.
Estonian Martin Padar won gold in the category over 78 kilogramme, and shared the stage with Alexandr Mikhailine (RUS) who finished third. Although Mikhailine was highly successful later becoming a triple world champion, it is still Padar leading in head2heads in the major tournaments. Padar defeated Mikhailine three times, for the last time at the 2009 European Championships in Tbilisi (GEO).
This weekend the Junior European Cup in Paks will be held in Hungary. A traditional strong tournament where Olympic hero’s won medals like Yvonne Boenisch (GER), Giuseppe Maddaloni (ITA) and Alina Dumitru (ROU) won medals. Follow the European Cup this weekend at your EJU website and see who can become the future champions.