Alfonso García won the M8 under-100-kilograms gold medal at the World Veterans Judo Championships on September 23 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, competing after a 40-year absence from competition, COPE reported. The 65-year-old athlete from Logroño defeated every opponent he faced across four matches in a tournament that drew approximately 1,400 competitors from 65 countries. Alfonso García is in his prime at 65, with his return to competition for a year and a half having turned out phenomenally after he previously represented Spain at a European Championship at 18 years of age.
Sarajevo Openings and World Champions Defeated
In his opening match, the Spanish judoka faced Russia’s Rasskazov, the division’s top-ranked competitor globally, and secured a victory. He then advanced past Brazil’s De Oliveira in the second round.
In the semifinal stage, García overcame Russia’s Pomiateev. The tournament bracket concluded with a final match against France’s Yvinec, where the Rioja representative claimed the gold medal. The event brought together elite veteran fighters from up to 65 countries at the venue in Sarajevo, marking one of the international gatherings on the veteran calendar with a total participation of 1,400 athletes.
A Four-Decade Gap and an Olympic Past
COPE noted that García previously represented Spain at the European Championships at age 18 before stepping away from competition for four decades. His earlier career milestones include competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, according to club records from Gimnasio Pedro Fernández cited by larioja.com and nuevecuatrouno.com. Alfonso García was an Olympian in Los Angeles in 1984, and has also been a sambo world champion, a multiple-time absolute Spanish champion, a Mediterranean Games runner-up, and a medalist in various European tournaments, as detailed in the record disseminated by his club.
Beyond his Olympic appearance, García’s athletic resume includes a world championship in sambo, multiple senior Spanish national titles, a silver medal at the Mediterranean Games, and podium finishes at various European tournaments. COPE reported that the veteran athlete carries six anchors in one shoulder following reconstructive surgery, a physical toll from decades on the tatami.
Training and Local Celebrations
Local reporting from larioja.com emphasizes that García represents the Pedro Fernández gym in Logroño, cementing his status as a prominent figure in regional and national sports.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Veteran World Championships
What weight and age category did Alfonso García win in Sarajevo?
García competed in the M8 division, fighting in the under-100-kilograms weight class, according to reports from larioja.com and nuevecuatrouno.com.
How many total competitors participated in the event?
The tournament gathered approximately 1,400 judokas representing 65 different countries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as detailed by Gimnasio Pedro Fernández records.
Which international opponents did García defeat to secure the title?
Reporting from nuevecuatrouno.com shows that García defeated Russia’s Rasskazov in the first round, Brazil’s De Oliveira in the second round, Russia’s Pomiateev in the semifinals, and France’s Yvinec in the final.
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