Italian judoka Carlotta Avanzato finished fifth in the women’s -63 kg division at the 2026 European Judo Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia, falling short of a bronze medal after a hard-fought campaign that saw her defeat a Polish opponent before losing in the quarterfinals to a top-ranked Croatian.
The competition took place on April 17, 2026, as part of the second day of action at the senior continental championships. Avanzato, representing Italy’s Fiamme Oro sports group, began her tournament with a victory over Poland’s Natalia Kropska in golden score, securing the win with a yuko after 4 minutes and 42 seconds of extra time.
Her momentum carried into the quarterfinals, where she faced Iva Oberan of Croatia, the world’s third-ranked athlete in the -63 kg category. Despite a competitive effort, Avanzato was defeated by Oberan, ending her direct path to the medal podium.
Following the quarterfinal loss, Avanzato entered the repechage bracket in pursuit of bronze. However, she was unable to advance further, ultimately placing fifth overall in the weight class. The result was confirmed by the Italian Judo Federation (FIJLKAM) in an official statement released on the day of the competition.
Avanzato, aged 23 at the time of the event, has been a consistent presence on the international circuit, with prior appearances at Grand Slam and European Open tournaments. Her performance in Tbilisi added to a growing competitive resume that includes multiple continental cup medals and a bronze finish at the 2024 European U23 Championships.
The women’s -63 kg division at the 2026 Europeans featured several elite athletes, including reigning world champion Eteri Liparteliani of Georgia, who went on to win the gold medal in the category. Liparteliani had previously defeated Italy’s Veronica Toniolo in the round of 16, with Toniolo earning an early victory over Turkey’s Aysenur Budak before falling to the home-country favorite.
Other Italian competitors in action that day included Fabio Basile and Lorenzo Valeriani in the men’s -73 kg class, though neither advanced to the medal rounds. The tournament served as a key evaluation point for athletes aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with continental results contributing to world ranking standings.
While Avanzato’s fifth-place finish did not yield a podium result, her victory over Kropska demonstrated resilience and tactical discipline, particularly in overcoming the challenges of golden score scoring. The performance highlighted both her current standing among Europe’s top judoka and the areas for growth as she prepares for future international competitions.
The European Judo Championships in Tbilisi concluded with Georgia dominating the medal table, particularly in the women’s divisions, as the host nation capitalized on home advantage throughout the event. For Avanzato and the Italian team, the focus now shifts to upcoming events on the World Judo Tour, including Grand Slam and Grand Prix opportunities later in the 2026 season.
Archysport will continue to monitor Avanzato’s progression as she aims to break into the medal ranks at future European and world championships, with the next major checkpoint being the 2027 European Judo Championships, scheduled to be held in a yet-to-be-determined host city.
For updates on Italian judo and international competition results, follow Archysport’s dedicated combat sports coverage.
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