French Judo Team Heads to Georgia for European Championships

The French judo team returned from the European Championships in Tbilisi with a mixed bag of medals and missed opportunities, leaving coaches and athletes assessing what worked and what needs refinement as they turn their focus toward the World Championships in Baku later this year.

Held from April 25 to 28 at the Olympic Palace in Georgia’s capital, the tournament served as a critical benchmark for Les Bleus just six months out from the elite-level competition in Azerbaijan. While France secured a total of seven medals — two gold, three silver, and two bronze — the performance fell short of the dominant displays seen in recent years, particularly when measured against powerhouse rivals like Georgia, Japan, and Azerbaijan.

The standout performer for France was Clarisse Agbegnenou, who reaffirmed her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats by capturing her sixth European title in the women’s -63kg division. The three-time Olympic medalist defeated Croatia’s Katarina Krišto in the final with a decisive ippon via o-soto-gari, showcasing the precision and tactical maturity that have defined her career. “It’s never easy to come back and win again,” Agbegnenou said post-match. “Each year brings modern challengers, and today I had to earn every grip.” Her victory extended her record for most European titles by a French judoka, male or female.

In the men’s -73kg category, Joan-Benjamin Gaba delivered a breakthrough performance, claiming gold with a composed display throughout the competition. The 24-year-old, competing in only his second senior Europeans, defeated Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili — a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist — in the semifinals before sealing victory over Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the final. Gaba’s win marked France’s first men’s title in the weight class since 2019 and signaled the emergence of a new generation capable of challenging established hierarchies.

Still, the tournament also exposed vulnerabilities. Double Olympic champion Teddy Riner, competing in the +100kg division, was stunned in the quarterfinals by Azerbaijan’s Ushangi Kokauri, who exploited a rare lapse in Riner’s usually impenetrable defense to score with a counter-uchi-mata. The loss ended Riner’s bid for a ninth consecutive European title and raised questions about his readiness for Baku, where he will aim for a third Olympic gold. “I didn’t bring my best judo today,” Riner admitted afterward. “That happens. Now I go back to work.”

Other notable results included silver medals for Amandine Buchard (-52kg), who lost a tightly contested final to Kosovo’s Distria Krasniqi, and Romain Valadier-Picard (-81kg), who fell to Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili in a match decided by a single shido. Bronze medals came from Alexandre Iddir (-90kg) and Mélanie Clément (-57kg), both of whom won repechage bouts to reach the podium.

France finished third in the medal table behind Georgia and Japan, a position that underscores the growing competitiveness of European judo. Georgia, fueled by passionate home support and a deep talent pool, claimed four gold medals, while Japan sent a strengthened squad to test itself against European opposition ahead of the Baku Worlds.

For the French coaching staff, led by national director Stéphane Nomis, the Tbilisi outcome provides a clear roadmap. Agbegnenou and Gaba’s successes validate the current high-performance pathway, but the inconsistencies in heavier weight classes and the lack of depth in several divisions suggest a need for targeted development. “We have champions who can win on any given day,” Nomis said in a post-tournament briefing. “Now we need more athletes capable of delivering that level consistently, especially when the pressure mounts.”

Looking ahead, the French team will use the Baku World Championships in September as both a measuring stick and a qualifying opportunity for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With the Olympic cycle now well underway, every result carries added weight, and the lessons from Tbilisi — both the triumphs and the setbacks — will shape preparations in the coming months.

As one of judo’s traditional powerhouses, France remains a medal favorite in Baku, but the European Championships reminded everyone that dominance is not given; We see earned, tournament by tournament, grip by grip.

For fans wanting to follow the team’s progression, the International Judo Federation’s official site offers live results, athlete profiles, and updated qualification standings as the Baku event approaches.

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