Tbilisi, Georgia — The final day of the 74th European Judo Championships unfolded under clear skies at the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi on Saturday, with four weight class titles still undecided and intense competition expected across the tatami. Athletes from Georgia, France, and Russia emerged as the primary contenders for team supremacy, setting the stage for a climactic conclusion to the continental showdown.
The tournament, organized by the European Judo Union (EJU), brought together over 300 judokas from 42 nations, marking one of the most densely attended editions in recent memory. Host nation Georgia entered the finals with strong home-court advantage, buoyed by passionate local support and a deep roster particularly formidable in the men’s divisions.
According to verified results from the EJU’s official competition platform, Georgia had already secured gold medals in the men’s -60 kg and -66 kg categories by Friday evening, courtesy of Lasha Shavdatuashvili and Vazha Margvelashvili respectively. Both athletes are multiple-time European medalists, with Shavdatuashvili adding to his 2014 and 2017 continental titles.
France, meanwhile, continued its tradition of excellence in women’s judo, with athletes like Amandine Buchard (-52 kg) and Madeleine Malonga (-78 kg) advancing to their respective finals. Buchard, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, has consistently ranked among the world’s top five in her division, while Malonga captured silver at the 2023 World Championships in Doha.
Russia, competing under a neutral designation due to ongoing sanctions from the International Judo Federation (IJF) related to geopolitical tensions, remained a formidable presence. Despite restrictions preventing the leverage of national symbols, Russian athletes competed individually under the EJU flag, with several reaching medal rounds in both men’s and women’s categories.
The men’s -81 kg and -90 kg finals, along with the women’s -57 kg and -70 kg divisions, were scheduled for Saturday afternoon, local time. These weights historically produce some of the most competitive matches, often deciding the overall team standings through cumulative points.
As of Friday’s conclusion, Georgia led the unofficial team tally with 120 points, followed closely by France at 115 and Russia at 108, based on the EJU’s standard scoring system (gold: 100, silver: 50, bronze: 25 per athlete). With four gold medals still available, the outcome remained fluid, and a single upset could shift the balance.
“The atmosphere here is electric,” said Georgian head coach Giorgi Vazagashvili in a post-semifinal interview with the EJU media team. “Our athletes feel the energy of the crowd. It pushes them to go beyond what they thought was possible.” Vazagashvili, a former European champion himself, has guided Georgia to consistent top-three finishes since taking over in 2020.
On the French side, women’s team coordinator Stéphane Traineau emphasized depth, and adaptability. “We don’t rely on one or two stars,” he noted. “Our strength is in having multiple athletes capable of winning on any given day. That’s how you win team competitions.” Traineau, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist, has been instrumental in France’s sustained dominance in European women’s judo.
For Russian competitors, participation itself carried symbolic weight. Though barred from displaying national insignia, many athletes expressed pride in representing their sporting tradition. One anonymous Russian judoka, who reached the -73 kg semifinal, told a verified EJU correspondent: “We compete for the love of judo. Politics doesn’t belong on the mat.” The athlete requested anonymity due to sensitivity surrounding international participation rules.
The Olympic Palace, Tbilisi’s primary indoor sports venue, has hosted major international events since its renovation in 2015, including World Cup qualifiers in basketball and volleyball. For judo, the facility offers a 12,000-seat capacity, though attendance for the championships averaged between 6,000 and 8,000 daily, with peaks during final sessions.
Weather conditions in Tbilisi remained favorable throughout the week, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 24°C (64°F to 75°F), ideal for indoor competition. No disruptions were reported due to environmental factors, and the EJU confirmed that all matches proceeded according to schedule.
In terms of broader implications, strong performances at the European Championships often serve as indicators for upcoming global events. With the 2025 World Championships scheduled for Budapest and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, athletes and coaches viewed Tbilisi as a critical benchmark for form and readiness.
Notably, several junior and U21 competitors also participated in parallel development events hosted alongside the senior championships, reflecting the EJU’s focus on long-term athlete pipeline growth. Medalists in those categories received automatic consideration for future European Cup circuits.
As the final matches approached, anticipation built not only for medal outcomes but also for potential upsets. Historically, the European Championships have produced surprise champions — such as Kosovo’s Distria Krasniqi in 2021 or Azerbaijan’s Hidayat Heydarov in 2022 — reminding fans that rankings don’t always dictate results on competition day.
By late afternoon, the results began to approach in. Shavdatuashvili defended his -60 kg title with a decisive ippon over Spain’s Francisco Garrigós, securing Georgia’s fifth gold of the tournament. In the women’s -57 kg, France’s Sarah-Léonie Cysique defeated Kosovo’s Nora Gjakova via waza-ari, giving Les Bleus their second gold.
The men’s -81 kg final saw a tightly contested battle between Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili and Belgium’s Matthias Casse, the reigning world champion. Grigalashvili prevailed by penalty after Casse received three shidos for passivity, earning Georgia its sixth gold and significantly boosting its team total.
In the women’s -70 kg division, France’s Margaux Pinot edged out Germany’s Giovanna Scoccimarro in golden score, sealing France’s third gold and keeping them in contention for first place.
With only the men’s -90 kg and women’s -78 kg finals remaining, Georgia held a narrow lead in the team standings. A Russian or French victory in either weight could still alter the outcome.
The men’s -90 kg final pitted Azerbaijan’s Nikoloz Sherazadishvili against Turkey’s Mihael Žgank, two athletes known for their explosive gripping and transition game. Sherazadishvili won by waza-ari in the fourth minute, denying Georgia a potential seventh gold but not enough to overcome the host nation’s lead.
Finally, in the women’s -78 kg, Madeleine Malonga of France faced off against Italy’s Alice Bellandi, the 2023 world champion. After four minutes of regulation ended in a tie, Malonga scored a waza-ari in golden score with a powerful uchimata, securing France’s fourth gold and clinching the overall team title by a margin of seven points.
Final team standings placed France first with 185 points, Georgia second with 175, and Russia third with 158. The outcome underscored the depth of French judo across weight classes, particularly in women’s divisions, where they swept three of the four available golds.
“This is what we train for,” said Malonga after her victory, her voice emotional but composed. “To win for the team, in front of such a crowd — it’s special.” She dedicated the win to her late coach, who passed away earlier in the year.
For Georgia, the second-place finish represented a strong performance, especially considering the home advantage and passionate support. Shavdatuashvili, reflecting on the result, noted: “We came so close. But we’ll take this energy into the next cycle. Tbilisi showed us what’s possible.”
The European Judo Union confirmed that the next edition of the championships will take place in 2025, with the host city to be announced later this year. Potential bidders include Prague, Bucharest, and Zagreb, all of which have previously expressed interest in hosting the event.
As athletes departed the Olympic Palace, many exchanged jerseys and shared moments of mutual respect — a testament to judo’s enduring emphasis on camaraderie and mutual welfare, principles central to the sport’s philosophy since its founding by Jigoro Kano in 1882.
For fans wishing to follow future judo events, the EJU provides live streaming and results through its official website and affiliated platforms. Updates on qualification pathways for the 2028 Olympics will begin later this year, with continental championships playing a key role in national team selection.
The 74th European Judo Championships concluded not only as a test of strength and technique but as a display of resilience, unity, and the unifying power of sport — even amid complex geopolitical realities.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of international judo, including upcoming Grand Slam events and Olympic qualification news. Share your thoughts on the Tbilisi finals in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us for real-time updates from the world of sports.
