The final day of the 2026 European Judo Championships in Tbilisi delivered dramatic conclusions in the heaviest weight classes, with Georgia’s Lasha Bekauri securing gold in the men’s -100kg category and France’s Romane Dicko defending her title in the women’s +78kg division. The packed Olympic Palace arena witnessed a blend of tactical precision and raw power as athletes from across Europe competed for continental supremacy on the tatami.
Bekauri, the reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 in his weight class, lived up to expectations with a commanding performance throughout the day. His path to gold included a decisive ippon victory over Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev in the semifinals, followed by a controlled win against Germany’s Karl-Richard Frey in the final. Frey, a 2022 European silver medalist, pushed Bekauri hard in the opening minutes but could not withstand the Georgian’s signature uchimata (inner thigh throw), which earned the decisive score at 3:18 of the match.
“Winning here in Tbilisi, in front of my home crowd, means everything,” Bekauri said after the match, his voice thick with emotion. “This gold is for my coaches, my family, and every young judoka in Georgia who dreams of standing on this podium.” The victory marks Bekauri’s third European title, having previously won in 2021 and 2023, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s modern greats.
In the women’s -78kg category, Italy’s Alice Bellandi claimed gold with a display of technical mastery that overwhelmed her opponents. Bellandi, who entered the tournament as the world No. 2, defeated Poland’s Beata Pacut-Kloczko in the final via waza-ari after a golden-score extension. The match remained scoreless through regular time, with both athletes displaying exceptional grip fighting and defensive resilience. Bellandi’s winning technique came from a well-timed osoto-gari (large outer reap) that caught Pacut-Kloczko off-balance as she attempted to counter.
The win represents Bellandi’s first European senior title, adding to her growing list of accolades that includes a World Championships silver medal in 2023 and an Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020. Her coach, Edoardo Melli, praised her mental fortitude: “Alice has been working tirelessly on her transition game and her ability to score in golden score. Today, she showed why she belongs among the elite.”
Perhaps the most anticipated final of the day was the women’s +78kg division, where France’s Romane Dicko faced off against Turkey’s Kayra Sayit in a rematch of the 2023 European final. Dicko, a two-time Olympic medalist and the reigning world champion, successfully defended her European title with a powerful ippon victory just 1:45 into the match. Her winning technique, a devastating harai-goshi (sweeping hip throw), lifted Sayit cleanly off the tatami and drew a roar from the crowd.
Sayit, who had defeated Dicko in the 2022 European final, acknowledged the French judoka’s superiority after the match. “Romane was stronger today,” Sayit said. “She controlled the pace and didn’t give me any openings. I’ll be back stronger next year.” Dicko’s victory extends her dominance in the heavyweight division, marking her fourth consecutive European title and reinforcing her status as the favorite for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The men’s +100kg category saw an upset as Georgia’s Guram Tushishvili, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist, fell to Uzbekistan’s Alisher Yusupov in the semifinals. Yusupov went on to win the gold medal by defeating Netherlands’ Michael Korrel in the final via waza-ari. Korrel, a two-time European medalist, had looked poised for gold after earlier victories over Azerbaijan’s Ushangi Kokauri and Poland’s Piotr Kuczera, but could not withstand Yusupov’s persistent pressure and effective ne-waza (ground work).
Tushishvili, meanwhile, rebounded to win the bronze medal by defeating Germany’s Erik Abramov in the consolation final. His performance highlighted the depth of talent in the heavyweight division, where even former Olympic medalists face stiff competition from rising contenders across Europe and beyond.
Throughout the final day, the atmosphere in Tbilisi’s Olympic Palace was electric, with Georgian fans filling the stands to support their national team. The host nation finished the championships with a total of seven medals — two gold, two silver, and three bronze — placing them third in the medal table behind France and Italy. The strong home crowd presence was noted by several athletes as a motivating factor, particularly for the Georgian judokas competing in front of family and friends.
Officials from the European Judo Union praised the organization of the event, citing smooth operations, high-level refereeing, and excellent athlete welfare services. Tournament director Miriam Blasco, a former Olympic judoka herself, highlighted the importance of maintaining competitive integrity while promoting the sport’s growth across the continent. “Tbilisi delivered a world-class championship,” Blasco said in a post-event statement. “The level of competition was exceptional, and the fans showed why judo continues to grow in popularity across Europe.”
The results from Tbilisi will have significant implications for the upcoming World Judo Championships later this year in Abu Dhabi and the qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Athletes who medaled in Tbilisi earn valuable ranking points that could influence seeding and draw placement in future major tournaments.
For fans looking to relive the action, the European Judo Union has made full match replays available on its official YouTube channel, while highlights packages are being distributed through partner broadcasters across Europe. The International Judo Federation also confirmed that all results from the championships have been officially uploaded to its world ranking system, effective immediately.
As the judo world turns its focus toward the summer season, with Grand Prix events in Zagreb and Antalya on the horizon, the performances in Tbilisi have set a clear benchmark for excellence. Bekauri’s home-land triumph, Dicko’s continued dominance, and Bellandi’s breakthrough gold all serve as reminders of the sport’s evolving landscape — where tradition, technique, and national pride converge on the tatami.
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