There are 10 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and exactly 18 days until the first Hajime is called on the opening day of the judo competition. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will showcase some of Europe’s best judoka, many of whom have strong records in international competition.
J1 WOMEN
Nataliya NIKOLAYCHYK (UKR) World and European champion Nikolaychyk has won every single event she has competed in during the Paris 2024 Paralympic qualifying period. Despite being ranked second in the Paralympic rankings due to the lower number of events she has competed in, she is undefeated and will be a major threat for gold in the J1 -48kg category. Notably, Nikolaychyk is also a double Paralympic bronze medallist from London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.
Anastasia HARNYK (UKR) Another golden potential for the Ukrainian team will be in the J1 +70kg category. Like her teammate Nikolaychyk, Hranyk has won every event she has competed in and is the reigning World and European champion within her category. Can anyone stop the pair of them?
Theodora PASCHALIDOU (GRE) Europe’s best chance of a medal in the J1 -70kg category will be in the hands of European champion Paschalidou. She also won silver at the prestigious Tokyo Grand Slam at the end of last year and has two bronze medals to her name this year, one from Heidelberg and one from Tbilisi.
J1 MEN
Alexandru BOLOGA (ROU) Double Paralympic bronze medallist Bologa will be looking to break through the semi-finals and go for gold in Paris. The 28-year-old had an incredible pre-Paralympic season, winning two of the three Grand Prix this year. In 2023, he claimed both the World and European titles and has made it clear that he is on course for glory. Needless to note, he is the world and Paralympic ranking leader in the J1 -73kg category.
Miguel VIEIRA (POR) The reigning world champion in the J1 -60kg category will be competing in his second Paralympic Games, having competed in Rio 2016. Vieira is also the current European champion in his division.
Lennart SASS (GER) The only person to defeat the aforementioned Bologa this year was, in fact, Sass back in February. The pair faced each other in most of the finals during the qualifying process, leaving Sass with a bag filled with silver, and although Bologa won the majority of them, the German judoka showed that he had the potential to outdo his extraordinary opponent. As Sass is ranked number 2, the two will be on different sides of the draw in Paris, setting up the possibility of another meeting in the final.
Oleg CRETUL (MDA) With a long career that includes multiple European titles, Cretul is one of Europe’s most experienced judoka. The Beijing 2008 Paralympic champion is aiming for another Paralympic medal to add to his impressive collection. Cretul will arrive to Paris as the #2 seed in the J1 -90kg category.
Daniel POWELL (GBR) Powell, who will also be competing in the men’s J1 -90kg category, has risen through the ranks recently and is currently ranked third on the Paralympic list. His strong form in the build-up to the Games makes him a serious medal contender. Powell, who won silver at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games, will be no stranger to the settings in Paris.
Ion BASOC (MDA) Following in the footsteps of his long-time teammate Cretul, Moldova will have the chance to double their medal haul from Paris, taking their tally to four if you add the two won by their Olympic judo team a few weeks ago. Basic won the last and final Paralympic qualifier in Tbilisi in May, setting a positive tone for the Games.
J2 WOMEN
Sandrine AURIERES MARTINET (FRA) The double world and 2016 Paralympic champion is a hot favourite to turn her Tokyo 2020 silver into gold on home soil at Paris 2024. The French judoka has had her ups and downs throughout the qualifying process but nothing that can be helped by a solid preparation and the boost of the home crowd. She will have the chance to deliver on the opening day of the competition as one of the strongest competitors in the J2 -48 kg category.
Ina KALDANI (GEO) She is the only European judoka to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the J2 -70kg category. Kaldani is a key member of the Georgian Paralympic team, which is known for producing high-level judo athletes. A medal from Kaldani would signify European judo’s lone but robust presence in this division.
Carolina COSTA (ITA) The reigning world champion had suffered a setback last year and, after winning the world title, had to take a break until the final test in Tbilisi, where she finished 5th after a long break. Before the World Championships, however, she had won all her competitions. At the Paris Games, she will be looking to confirm her title as the world’s best in the J2 +70kg category.
J2 MEN
Hélios LATCHOUMANAYA (FRA) The ultimate home favourite for gold is certainly this young man who has already won a Paralympic medal, a bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The reigning world and European champion in the J2 -90kg category has shown nothing but consistency, winning the last Paralympic qualifier in Tbilisi. Competing on home soil comes with pressure and privilege, will Latchoumanaya be able to handle it?
Revaz CHIKOIDZE (GEO) To close the Paralympic qualifying period, the final national anthem played was the Georgian hymn as Chikoidze won the Tbilisi Grand Prix back in May. The Georgian judoka had only showed up at a few point scoring events, yet managed to medal if not win at most of them. With a slight recent changes on the Paralympic rankings, Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Chikoidze will arrive to Paris as the #2 of the J2 +90kg category.
Christopher SKELLEY (GBR) The reigning Paralympic champion will be looking to defend his title in Paris. He is one of the leading figures in British judo, with several international medals to his name. Due to a rather unique and rare eye condition called Oculartanious Albinism, Skelley faced some challenges during the qualifying period, some of which forced him to sit out a number of events. As a result, the British judoka will likely to begin his day as the #4 seed but this is not to define or suggest the final outcome of the day.
These athletes, among others, will be the ones to watch as they compete for Paralympic glory in Paris. There is always an element of anticipation as we wonder which of the judoka from the home nation will exceed all expectations and deliver a shocking performance. After all, it is France Judo and in any case, Europe is in for a treat.
Judo at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Date: September 5-7, 2024
Venue: Champ de Mars Arena
Divisions:
J1 – An athlete’s vision impairment must result in a visual acuity of less than
or equal to LogMAR 2.6 in binocular vision.
J2 – The athlete’s visual acuity must be within a range between LogMAR 1.3
and 2.5 with binocular vision, or with a binocular visual field of 60 degrees or
less in diameter.
Schedule:
Day 1, September 5: J1 -48kg, J2 -48kg, J1 -57kg, J1 -60kg, J2 -60kg
Day 2, September 6: J2 -57kg, J1 -70kg, J2 -70kg, J1 -73kg, J2 -73kg
Day 3, September 7: J1 +70kg, J2 +70kg, J1 -90kg, J2 -90kg, J1 +90kg, J2 +90kg
Images: IJF / Ukrainian Olympic Committee / Alex Bologa / Olga Cretul / Hélios Latchoumanaya / ParalympicGB
Author: Szandra Szogedi