Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Udo Quellmalz is Olympic Champion 1996 and two times World Champion. He is part of the IJF supervisors and was working at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. We spoke with the 54-year old Judoka. You are working in the IJF as a supervisor. Please explain your function as a supervisor…
31 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Amandine BUCHARD (FRA) missed out on an opportunity in Rio de Janeiro 2016 but wasn’t about to let it slip by her a second time, regardless of a world pandemic. She trained hard and as she confesses, ‘suffered and sacrificed’ to ensure she was in optimal shape for the Tokyo…
29 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Since 1984, Austria have been trying to beat their best results of an Olympic gold and bronze from Peter SEISENBACHER and Josef REITER, and after eight Olympiads, they did just that. Medallists, Michela POLLERES and Shamil BORCHASHVILI had the most successful days of their careers in the -70kg and -81kg…
27 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Nobody was closer to the action in Tokyo than the referees. We asked them about their experiences in the Nippon Budokan, the home of judo as the Olympic Games returned there after 57 years. First to divulge his personal experiences was Evgeny Rakhlin, who was still brimming with excitement following…
16 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Dear Presidents,Dear EJU EC members, dear Teams of EJU Member Federations! I would like to congratulate all European champions and medallists of these Olympic Games, all member federations, coaches and specialists involved in their preparation. I also congratulate everyone who qualified and wanted to achieve a medal. It’s been a…
11 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
In only its second appearance at an Olympic Games the tiny Balkan nation of Kosovo has once again hit the sporting headlines. Majlinda KELMENDI (KOS) made history in Rio in 2016 by becoming her country’s first ever Olympic medallist by taking gold in the -52kg category. Last week in Tokyo…
6 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Measuring a successful performance simply by looking at the numbers does not always offer up the full-picture. European judoka at these Games won five gold medals compared to the eight golds they won in Rio in 2016. Yet when considering the total number of medals won, Europe had its most…
5 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Anton GEESINK (NED) will forever be remembered for his gold medal winning performance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It was the moment when Japan’s hitherto invincible status in their beloved sport of judo was unexpectedly brought crashing down at the iconic Nippon Budokan by the giant Dutchman. In as spectacular…
3 August 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Lukasz KRPALEK of the Czech Republic can now call himself a double Olympic champion, not only in one weight category, but two. In what can only be called a spectacular performance, the 2016 -100kg Olympic champion battled against his fellow Olympians, the best in the world, to take his second…
30 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Repechage and Semi Finals The +78kg got off to a quick start, unfortunately for Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA) she was unable to continue due to injury and the win automatically went to Shin XU of China. Kayra SAYIT (TUR) won her repechage in the first minute, te waza bringing her…
30 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Number one seed in the +100kg category, Tamerlan BASHAEV (ROC) was about to become the most talked about athlete of the day, but he might not have realised that stepping on to the tatami. His opponent, the legend that is Teddy Riner (FRA) looked in control for the majority of…
30 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
There is no doubt of the strength of the French team, already with medals are Amandine BUCHARD (-52kg), Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE (-57kg), Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (-63kg ) and Luka MKHEIDZE (-60kg). Today was the time to shine for the 2019 world champion, Madeleine MALONGA in the -78kg category. Last time she…
29 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Repechage & Semi Finals The repechage contests began with Guusje STEENHUIS (NED) and Kaliema ANTOMARCHI (CUB). It was a long contest, a length of eight minutes and unfortunately for the Dutch it was a makikomi from Antomarchi that ended it in favour of Cuba. Mayra AGUIAR (BRA) took the second…
29 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
It was a much earlier finish in the Nippin Budokan today following the preliminary rounds for the -100kg and -78kg categories. In both weights we have a European in each semi final. You can expect to see the -100kg #1 seed Varlam LIPARTELIANI (GEO) there against Aaron WOLF (JPN). To…
29 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
The final was an all-European affair between two of the younger athletes in the -90kg division, current European champion Lasha BEKAURI (GEO) and Eduard TRIPPEL (GER). Germany’s Trippel was certainly a fairytale when considering the sheer volume of potential champions in this category. In a much anticipated final between the…
28 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
The most successful day for Europe so far was in the -70kg and -90kg categories, where a total of six medals were taken along with an Olympic title for Georgia, the first in the tournament. Medal Contests Barbara MATIC (CRO) v Madina TAIMAZOVA (ROC) To say that Taimazova has been…
28 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
On the fifth day of the Olympic Games, we saw at least one European athlete in every medal contest, with the final block saturated with athletes from our continent, there were six medals guaranteed and a potential of seven. Repechage & Semi Finals Despite great efforts form Alice BELLANDI (ITA),…
28 July 2021Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan
Day five certainly saw some surprise early exits in the women’s -70kg from the likes of Margaux PINOT (FRA) as well as disappointing ends in the mens -90kg category for Mammadali MEHDIYEV (AZE), Axel CLERGET (FRA) and TOTH Krizstian (HUN), all in touching distance of the quarter finals. We can…
28 July 2021
Olympic Games