Juan Gordo Ara of Club Judo Kanpai de Jaca won the European Masters ne-waza (ground judo) championship in the M1–M3 under-81-kilogram category, securing the gold medal at the continental tournament held from October 22 to 25 in Portimão, Portugal.
Five Victories on the Portuguese Tatami
He opened his tournament by defeating Switzerland’s Matthias Lengen in just 42 seconds. In his second match, he overcame France’s Mathieu Calvez in 2 minutes and 21 seconds, before defeating another French competitor, Alexandre Fereol, at the 2-minute and 42-second mark. Those three wins earned him the top spot in his group and a place in the semifinals.
In the penultimate round, Gordo met Estonia’s Nikita Razin, who also advanced through the group stage without a loss. The Aragonese judoka sealed the victory at 2 minutes and 15 seconds to reach the final. For the gold medal, Gordo faced Moldova’s Iurie Leu, who had advanced past Austria’s Roland Grohs in the opposite semifinal. Gordo captured the continental title by defeating Leu at 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
Final Standings in the Under-81 Kilogram Division
Leu earned the silver medal following his defeat in the final. The bronze medals were shared by France’s Alexandre Fereol and Estonia’s Nikita Razin, according to tournament results.
Wider Meaning for the Club in Jaca
Club Judo Kanpai de Jaca highlighted how the victory benefited its members, particularly the younger judokas training at the facility. The organization noted that its tatami brings together children and adults with different goals united by a shared approach to the sport, emphasizing that judo extends beyond technique to build perseverance and patience in the face of difficulty. This champion has not only won a medal for himself; he also gives us an example for all our students,
the club noted, insisting that the true success of younger members does not have to be measured in titles, but in their capacity to make an effort, respect others, and gain confidence in their own possibilities. Today we celebrate a European title, but above all, we celebrate the values that make our sport and our judo family great,
Judo Kanpai concluded, adding that the result stands as one of the most prominent international successes in its recent history.
