The European U23 Judo Championships 2022 edition opened on Friday October 28 at the Arena Hotel Hill in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) with a gold medal for France. This charm was possible thanks to the performance of Maxime Gobert. In -66 kg, the Guadeloupean, using a waza-ari, beat the Swiss Freddy Waizenegger in the final. Thus, he offers himself the European title during this first day of competition.
Before climbing to the top step of the podium, the judoka from Olympic Judo Nice eliminated Andras Vida in the second round. In the quarter-finals, he managed to add the Azerbaijani Ruslan Pashayev to the list of his victims thanks to a golden score. In the semi-final, Maxime Gobert gave Leonardo Valeriani of Spain no chance. Maxime Gobert continues his progression towards the top of world judo. Indeed, already junior European champion in 2021, he had obtained bronze at the Junior Worlds. Just as his participation in the Grand Slams of Paris and one in the Grand Prix of Zagreb allowed him to accumulate experience. Certainly, he is following in the footsteps of a certain Teddy Riner.
