Tradition, excellent hosting and top talent has continued to make the opening camp of the year one of the most successful. Established well before being given the ‘OTC’ status (Olympic Training Camp – Going for Gold), which originated in 2010, Mittersill has never lost momentum and in this edition, starting on the 7th of January, will welcome a slew of new Olympic Champions.
With the support of the EJU OTC programme, many athletes who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend, will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best athletes in the world, advancing themselves in the judo community.
There is also a recent addition to the list of attendees, and though he may be in a coaching capacity for Team Scotland, double Olympic Champion from Japan, ONO Shohei will be a very welcome judoka to the Austrian tatami.
From the European side, host Olympic medallist, Michaela POLLERES will be in attendance with the force of Team Austria, which also includes Olympic fifth place, Lubjana PIOVESANA as well as Junior World Champion, Elena DENGG.
The list of Olympic Champions continues with; Zelym KOTSOIEV (AZE), Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE), finalists; Distria KRASNIQI (KOS), Joan Benjamin GABA (FRA), Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA) and bronze medallists; Laura FAZLIU (KOS), Patricia SAMPAIO (POR), Tara BABULFATH (SWE), Gabriella WILLEMS (BEL) and Maxime Gael NGAYAP HAMBOU (FRA), as well as members from the French team who took the Mixed Team gold medal for the second time.
Many will be keen to engage in randori with these highlighted athletes and welcome one another back to the tatami for the new season. See you in Mittersill!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen