At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the spotlight will be on the defending Olympic champions as they strive to retain their titles. These athletes achieved gold in their respective weight categories at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and will face fierce competition as they aim for back-to-back victories. Who are the defending Olympic champions in Europe?
DISTRIA KRASNIQI
Nation: Kosovo
Age: 28
Height: 154cm
WRL: #2
Weight category: -52kg
Krasniqi won the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the -48kg category.
NORA GJAKOVA
Nation: Kosovo
Age: 31
Height: 166cm
WRL: #8
Weight category: -57kg
CLARISSE AGBEGNENOU
Nation: France
Age: 31
Height: 164cm
WRL: #6
Weight category: -63kg
LASHA BEKAURI
Nation: Georgia
Age: 23
Height: 192cm
WRL: #1
Weight category: -90kg
LUKAS KRPALEK
Nation: Czechia
Age: 33
Height: 197cm
WRL: #11
Weight category: +100kg
Krpalek already won gold in two weight categories, Rio 2016 -100kg and Tokyo 2020 +100kg.
TEAM FRANCE
The mixed team judo event is a thrilling competition that debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It features teams composed of three men and three women, each from different weight categories. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Team France won the title.
The individual judo competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place over seven days, from 27 July to 2 August, at the Champ de Mars Arena. The mixed team competition will be held on 3 August.
Author: Szandra Szogedi