Eteri Liparteliani Finds Focus Beyond the Scoreboard

Georgia’s Eteri Liparteliani has highlighted the mental demands behind elite Judo, from pre-fight preparation to handling disappointment after a major final. In an EJU interview published for World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2026, the -57kg 2025 world champion spoke about the role psychological support plays in her competition routine.

Before a competition day begins, Liparteliani can be found at the edge of the tatami working with her psychologist. Breathing exercises and visualisation are part of her preparation, helping her approach the pressure that comes with high-level Judo.

The 2026 World Championships in Baku brought a different challenge for the Georgian athlete. For the first time, she arrived not simply as a leading contender, but as the defending world champion. That status added another layer of expectation to an already demanding event.

Liparteliani reached her second world final despite carrying a nagging rib injury. In the final, she was beaten by Japan’s Akari Omori and took silver, a result that came with mixed emotions after entering the competition with hopes of retaining gold.

Mental preparation can be as important as physical readiness on the tatami.

Liparteliani said the injury stopped her from showing her full range of Judo and using all of her techniques, particularly in the final. Still, her run to the medal match underlined the determination needed to compete when body and mind are both being tested.

She also stressed that success requires consistent work. For Liparteliani, psychological support is not separate from her sporting preparation; it is part of the process of pursuing the goals she sets for herself.

The Georgian credited her psychologist, who supported her in 2025 and again in 2026, as well as her coaches. Their backing, she explained, gives her additional motivation as she continues to navigate the pressure, setbacks and expectations that come with being a world champion.

For young judoka watching from the stands or training halls, her experience is a reminder that difficult results do not erase progress. In elite Judo, recovering mentally can be just as vital as recovering physically.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union