Ben Musaeus captured the gold medal in Sarajevo at the Special Olympics Judo Open 2026, sweeping all three of his matches in a dominant international campaign. Traveling roughly 3,000 kilometers round-trip by camper van from his hometown of Wermelskirchen, Germany, the German competitor underlined his status among Europe’s elite in ID-Judo.
Sarajevo Tournament Draws 130 Judokas from 18 Nations
The Special Olympics Judo Open took place alongside the Judo Veterans World Championship in the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Accreditation kicked off the event before officials assigned the 130 participating athletes from 18 nations into specific competition pools based on their functional capabilities and cognitive handicaps. Musaeus found himself placed in a competitive four-fighter pool featuring representatives from Iran, Bulgaria, and the host nation, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Throughout the preliminary matchups, the German athlete — affectionately known as the “Judobär” or “Judo Bear” among coaches and peers — overpowered every opponent, ending each contest well inside the standard three-minute official time limit.
Eight-Second Ippon Highlights Dominant Run
The defining moment of the tournament arrived during Musaeus’s second bout. Launching immediately into an aggressive leg technique, he drove through a heavy Osoto Gari (major outer reaping) throw. The decisive move earned an ippon — the highest score in judo, which ends a match instantly — in just eight seconds. That lightning-fast finish set the tone for a flawless tournament sweep that culminated in the gold medal for Team Special Olympics Deutschland. His father, Jörg Musaeus, who accompanied him on the lengthy road trip alongside another training colleague, reported that the athlete was overjoyed with the result.
Long Journey and Upcoming European Championships in Belgrade
The logistical feat of reaching Sarajevo required a three-day drive each way across Europe inside a camper van, a journey shared by family and coaching staff. Following the rigorous competition and the demanding travel schedule, Musaeus contracted a mild case of influenza and is currently taking a short break from training. Looking ahead, the Wermelskirchen competitor has already turned his focus to the next major checkpoint on his calendar: the Open European Championships in Adapted Judo 2026, scheduled to take place in Belgrade, Serbia, this November.
