Thea Cowen

NAME: ZELYM KOTSOIEV COUNTRY: AZERBAIJAN CATEGORY: -100KG WORLD RANKING POINTS: 6812 Azerbaijan did not only celebrate one victory in the World Championships or Olympic Games in 2024, but they were able to bathe in the glory once more, as Zelym KOTSOIEV hailed the flag and sounded the national anthem in Abu Dhabi and Paris. By some coincidence, both Kotsoiev and Heydarov…

As we welcome the new year, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the positive changes and exciting developments that lie ahead in 2025. In the realms of education and judo, there are numerous initiatives and trends to look forward to. Kristiina PEKKOLA, Vice President for Education at the European Judo Union, shares her vision for the future, highlighting key…

Athletes are already in preparation for the 2025 season, hoping to qualify and compete at the highest level, but who will be hosting the champions of 2025? Kickstarting the prime events will be the esteemed Senior European Championships in Podgorica, Montenegro in April. It will be the first time that Montenegro hosts this event and will see Olympic, World and…

Tradition, excellent hosting and top talent has continued to make the opening camp of the year one of the most successful. Established well before being given the ‘OTC’ status (Olympic Training Camp – Going for Gold), which originated in 2010, Mittersill has never lost momentum and in this edition, starting on the 7th of January, will welcome a slew of…

In recent times, the growth and development of the adapted judo scene has been nothing short of encouraging. The European Judo Union prides itself on the motto that judo is more than sport, and with adapted judo, we delve in much further than high performance. The effect judo has on most is transformative, and in the case of judoka we…

On the second day of the Mittersill OTC 2025, the President of the Austrian Judo Federation, and General Secretary of the European Judo Union, Dr Martin POIGER officially opened the camp and addressed athletes and coaches, It is a great pleasure to welcome you all here to Austria for the 31st edition of the Mittersill OTC, we are grateful that…

It is a new year, and the feeling is clear for all the athletes on the Mittersill OTC, a new cycle and challenge lies ahead. For Ilia SULAMANIDZE of Georgia, only one, the Olympic gold in 2028. Sulamanidze’s performance was stunning as usual, however he fell at the final hurdle and was forced to settle for the Olympic silver. Though…

With a new cycle, changes are happening on and off the tatami, and one face we will no longer see on the tour is Swedish referee, Bjorn NYBERG. Nyberg has been an active part of the EJU community since 2013 and is a well-known face on the international circuit for most referees and coaches, travelling around most European countries to…

It was almost the Olympic fairytale for Judo Austria’s Lubjana PIOVESANA. On the fourth day of the judo event in the Paris Olympic Games, Piovesana came out strong in the -63kg category, having already given some of her best performances to date in 2024 and building her confidence within a new team. It didn’t start so smoothly though… When I…

Young athletes competing in the European Youth Olympic Festival and Cadet European Championships 2025 are twice as lucky as both events are to be held in Skopje, North Macedonia. To prepare for these two prime events and ensure the care of our delegations is a top priority, EJU Vice President, Catarina RODRIGUES has been on site for inspection this week…