Tbilisi, Georgia – In a stunning turn of events at the 2026 European Judo Championships, 20-year-old Dayyan Boulemtafes claimed the bronze medal in the men’s -73 kg category by defeating his teammate and reigning world champion Joan-Benjamin Gaba in the bronze medal final.
The victory marks Boulemtafes’ first international medal and comes just hours after Gaba had lost in the semifinals to Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili, eliminating him from gold medal contention.
According to verified reports from L’Équipe, Boulemtafes defeated Gaba in the bronze medal match after both judokas had earlier fallen in their respective semifinal bouts. Gaba, who entered the tournament as the defending world champion, was beaten by Shavdatuashvili in the semifinals before facing Boulemtafes in the bronze medal final.
The match between the two French teammates went into golden score, where Boulemtafes emerged victorious after Gaba was penalized twice during the contest. Boulemtafes had previously secured his place in the bronze medal match by defeating British judoka Ethan Nairne in the repechage round, following a quarterfinal loss to Azerbaijan’s Hidayat Heydarov, the Olympic champion from Paris 2024.
“Fougueux et sans peur contre le champion du monde de la catégorie, Boulemtafes (20 ans) a dominé, triomphant lors du golden score face à un Gaba pénalisé à deux reprises plus tôt dans le combat,” L’Équipe reported, describing the young judoka’s fearless performance against the higher-ranked opponent.
The result continues a recent trend for Gaba, who had also pursued bronze medals at the European Championships in 2024 and 2025. As noted by RMCSport BFMTV, “Comme en 2024 et 2025, Gaba tentera d’obtenir le bronze. Et il faudra battre son coéquipier en club et en sélection Dayyan Boulemtafes.” This year, however, it was Boulemtafes who prevailed in the all-French showdown for the podium.
Boulemtafes’ victory contributed to France’s medal tally at the championships, which had already secured two gold medals earlier in the competition through Shirine Boukli and Luka Mkheidze on the opening day.
The bronze medal match between Boulemtafes and Gaba highlighted the depth of talent in France’s junior judo ranks, with the 20-year-old Boulemtafes breaking through on the senior international stage despite Gaba’s status as a world champion and experienced medal contender.
Following the match, Gaba left Tbilisi without an individual medal, having been defeated in both the semifinals and the bronze medal final. Boulemtafes, meanwhile, celebrated his breakthrough performance as a sign of his rising potential in the sport.
The European Judo Championships in Tbilisi continue to serve as a key proving ground for emerging talent, with Boulemtafes’ result signaling a potential shift in the future leadership of France’s men’s -73 kg division.
As the tournament progresses, attention will turn to whether Boulemtafes can build on this momentum in future international competitions, while Gaba looks to rebound from a disappointing individual campaign in Georgia.
For ongoing coverage of the 2026 European Judo Championships and other global judo events, readers are encouraged to follow official updates from the International Judo Federation and trusted sports news sources.
Share your thoughts on this surprising result and what it means for the future of French judo in the comments below.
