Thomas Scharfetter of JC Sanjindo Bischofshofen came agonizingly close to securing Austria’s first judo medal at the European Championships in over a decade, but ultimately fell short in the bronze medal match in Tbilisi, Georgia. Competing in the men’s -73kg division, the 24-year-old Pongau native displayed remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, defeating higher-ranked opponents before narrowly losing his final bout for a podium finish.
The European Judo Championships, held from April 25 to 28 at the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi, brought together over 400 athletes from 45 nations. Scharfetter entered the competition as Austria’s sole representative in the lightweight category, ranked 32nd in the world according to the International Judo Federation (IFF) standings heading into the event. His journey began with a decisive ippon victory over Moldova’s Denis Vieru in the round of 64, showcasing precise uchi-mata technique that earned him full points just 2 minutes and 18 seconds into the match.
In the round of 32, Scharfetter faced a sterner test against Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a two-time European champion. Despite the significant experience gap, the Austrian judoka controlled the grips effectively and secured a waza-ari score with a well-timed seoi-nage, advancing after Shavdatuashvili received two shido penalties for passive fighting. The victory marked one of the biggest upsets of the early rounds, as Shavdatuashvili was seeded seventh in the division.
Scharfetter’s run continued in the round of 16 against Slovenia’s Adrian Gomboc, a 2022 World Championships silver medalist. After a tightly contested first half that saw both athletes penalized for minor infractions, Scharfetter capitalized on a momentary lapse in Gomboc’s defense to execute a successful tomoe-nage, earning another waza-ari and putting him on the verge of victory. Even though Gomboc mounted a late offensive push, Scharfetter maintained composure and defended successfully until the final bell, securing a judges’ decision win that sent him into the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinal match pitted Scharfetter against Italy’s Fabio Basile, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the -66kg category who had recently moved up to -73kg. Basile, a former world and European champion, proved too strong for the Austrian, utilizing his superior speed and explosive transition game to score two waza-ari points within the first three minutes. Despite Scharfetter’s efforts to close the distance and engage in clinch operate, Basile repeatedly broke free and countered effectively, ultimately winning by ippon with a seoi-nage that ended the contest at 3:42.
Although eliminated from medal contention, Scharfetter earned a place in the repechage bracket, keeping his bronze medal hopes alive. His first repechage opponent was Ukraine’s Bogdan Iadov, whom he defeated decisively with an ippon-seoi-nage just 90 seconds into the match. The victory set up a bronze medal match against Hungary’s Marcell Lukas, a 2023 European Championships bronze medalist and consistent medal contender on the World Tour circuit.
The bronze medal match proved to be the most intense bout of Scharfetter’s tournament. Both athletes traded penalties early, each receiving two shido for defensive posturing and lack of offensive initiative. With the score tied at zero and less than one minute remaining, Lukas seized an opportunity to attack Scharfetter’s lead leg, successfully executing a sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi that earned him a waza-ari score. Scharfetter launched a desperate counterattack in the final 20 seconds, attempting multiple combinations, but Lukas defended adeptly and ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Speaking after the match, Scharfetter expressed disappointment but pride in his performance. “I gave everything I had out there,” he said in mixed zone interviews translated by Austrian Judo Federation staff. “To come this close against some of the best in the world shows we’re on the right path. The bronze hurt to miss, but I’ll accept the lessons from this tournament and come back stronger.” His coach, Peter Schrattenthaler of JC Sanjindo Bischofshofen, echoed the sentiment, noting Scharfetter’s tactical discipline and improved conditioning were evident throughout the competition.
The result leaves Austria still searching for its first European Championships medal since Katharina Tanzer won silver in the -57kg category at the 2013 event in Budapest. Scharfetter’s performance, however, represents a significant step forward for Austrian judo on the continental stage. His victories over ranked opponents from Moldova, Georgia, and Slovenia demonstrated an ability to compete with elite-level athletes, particularly in grip fighting and transition scoring.
Looking ahead, Scharfetter will now turn his focus to the World Judo Tour circuit, with the Grand Slam in Astana scheduled for May 10–12 as his next major international appearance. The Austrian Judo Federation has confirmed he will remain in the -73kg division for the remainder of the 2024 season, with goals set on improving his world ranking and qualifying directly for the 2025 World Championships in Budapest. No changes to his training schedule or coaching staff have been announced following the European Championships.
For readers following Austrian judo’s progress, the upcoming European Open in Warsaw on June 1–2 presents another opportunity for Scharfetter to build momentum. The event, while lower in ranking points than Grand Slam or Championships events, offers valuable mat time against developing talent from across the continent. Fans can access live results and updated rankings through the International Judo Federation’s official website, which provides real-time scoring and athlete profiles for all sanctioned events.
While the bronze medal eluded him in Tbilisi, Thomas Scharfetter’s run at the 2024 European Judo Championships stands as one of the most promising performances by an Austrian judoka in recent memory. His ability to defeat higher-ranked opponents and push a medal contender to the limit in the repechage highlights his growing stature in the lightweight division. As he prepares for the next phase of his season, the lessons learned in Georgia will undoubtedly shape his approach to future challenges on the world stage.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of Thomas Scharfetter’s journey and all major judo events throughout the 2024 season. Share your thoughts on his performance in Tbilisi in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us for real-time updates on Austrian athletes competing on the international stage.
