A delegation of ten Spanish blind and visually impaired Paralympic judokas is set to compete at the European Championships in Heidelberg, Germany, running from August 14 to August 16, according to sports reports from EFE via Infobae.
The Heidelberg European Championships and Spanish Representation
According to sports reporting by Infobae, the European Championships in Heidelberg mark one of the continental gatherings where the Spanish Federation for Sports for the Blind (FEDC) has deployed its largest contingent of athletes. Beyond individual medal pursuits, Spain will field both men’s and women’s teams in the team tournament. Reports indicate that Spanish squads have not entered the team event in eight years.
Veteran Leadership and Returning Medalists
The Spanish roster features experienced international competitors led by quadruple Paralympic medalist Marta Arce. Hailing from Valladolid, Arce captured a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and continued her strong international form by claiming a continental bronze last year and a fifth-place finish at the World Championships held this past March in Tbilisi, Georgia, as detailed by Infobae.
Aragon’s Sergio Ibáñez also anchors the team. Ibáñez underwent surgery for an injury following the Paris Games before returning to competition a year ago in Giza, Egypt, where he earned a bronze medal in the J2 -70kg category—the exact metal he secured at his subsequent international outing, according to EFE coverage.
Depth and New Talent on the Tatami
The squad includes several other notable competitors with recent international success. María Manzanero returns to the circuit following a cruciate ligament recovery, boasting three international circuit medals. Íñigo Gerbolés enters Heidelberg following a bronze-medal finish at the Astana Grand Prix, while Rodrigo Suárez seeks to build on his European debut bronze won a year ago, as reported by Infobae.
Additional competitors making up the ten-person roster include Norberto Tuñón, Omar Tohuami, and María Campos. Elsa Lukun joins the team as its youngest member, preparing for her first appearance at a European Championship. The Spanish lineup is completed by Álvaro Gavilán, who returns to elite competition after clearing his final visual classification phase and receiving clearance to compete.
Tournament Schedule and Next Steps
Competition at the Heidelberg venue runs from Thursday, August 14, through Saturday, August 16. Athletes will first contest individual weight categories before shifting focus to the men’s and women’s team tournaments. Official updates and match results will be tracked through governing body channels as the tournament progresses.
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