On the very first day, twelve of the German judoka started at the Aorakia Stadium in Heraklion. They won seven medals. “It’s a good record and a great result for our athletes,” says team leader Torsten Heilmann.
One of the oldest in the team Emil Messner (M9 -73 kg – Asia Sport – MV) had only one opponent, but in such a case there are several fights. Emil Messner won twice very comfortably against Robert Rousseau from France, so that a possible third decisive fight did not take place. “He completely controlled his opponent,” said Torsten Heilmann with great respect for the performance of the 73-year-old. “And it wasn’t a lame event! In his fights there was real power behind him. It’s fascinating that at his age he gets on the mat and fights – and he does it well and fast.” He deservedly became European champion.
Manfred Zollner (BG Senshu Emmerich – NW) won his two fights in the pool of three in the M8 -81 kg and thus also became European Champion.
Marcus Utzat from the Bremen judo team had one win and one loss in his pool of three and won the silver medal.
Torsten Heilmann (M6 – 73 kg – SV Harpersdorf – TH) won two fights in his pool of five to win the bronze medal. “The medal was decided in the golden score,” he is still happy about the fact that he won exactly the fight and thus secured the bronze medal.
Olaf Long (JG Sachsenwald/TSG Bergedorf – HH) also won the bronze medal in the M6 -100 kg class Joachim March (JC Kano Heilbronn – WÜ) in the M7 +100 kg and Your Steps (SV Harpersdorf – TH) in der Klasse M9 – 100 kg.
Torsten Heilmann is enthusiastic about the fighters that day. “The older generations fought with a lot of joy and above all technical performance and showed a high level technically and tactically.”
On Friday the age groups M3 and M4 (40-49 years) will fight. From a German point of view, Samuel Frevert will start in the M3 -100 kg class. The draws for day 1 and 2 here
Time schedule:
Friday 3 June 2022
Age groups M3, M4 (40-49 years)
9:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. CEST) – Preliminaries begin
3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. CEST) – Opening Ceremony
4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. CEST) – Final fights and award ceremonies
