European Junior Championships in Oberwart promise spectacular field

At the European Junior Championships the best young athletes will be expected to come to Oberwart in Austria. In some categories more than 40 athletes, some with two athletes of one nation. One year to go for the Olympic Games in Rio, some may even attend those Games in Rio, but for most it will be a milestones towards the 2020 Games in the home of judo, Japan. The European Championships are held four weeks in advance of the World Championships for Juniors in Abu Dhabi (UAE).

Some 2012 Olympic medallists their international journey started with a European title. In total twelve judoka who won a medal in the 2008 edition participated in the Olympic Games, four years later. Eighteen former medalists at European Junior Championships won a medal at the 2012 Olympic Games!

French Ugo Legrand (FRA) and Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) won the European junior title in 2008 and both collected a bronze medal at the Olympic Games and took a medal at the last World Championships.

Charline van Snick, who won bronze in 2008 won in London’s Olympics this year and bronze at the Worlds in Rio in 2013.

Oberwart is familiar for its friendly environment with lots of Spa’s and a heart of judo. Since 2011 this small city is the host of the European Open for either men or women. This year some of the junior athletes have already participated and practiced in the hall, but British Jemima Yeats-Brown was the only junior to capture a medal in Oberwart in February. The British have a reputation as they are on the top of the list of most successful juniors this year with Lubjana Piovesana who won 7 medals and took 4 victories this season. Spanish Sara Rodriguez, Dutch Amber Gersjes and Russian magic man Mikhail Igolnikov are the ones expected to shine in their categories. Although this championships will be stronger than the average European Cup. Austria have a medal challenger at women U70kg with Michaela Polleres but exactly this category is considered as one of the most mature events in Oberwart.

This pre-Olympic Year can be compared to 2011 where Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia won the European title and became Olympic Champion not even a year later, what a dream scenario.

Watch our teaser about the juniors who made a successful transition to senior level.