From Soeverein Cup to European hub: Ilse Heylen’s camp levels up

Olympic bronze medallist Ilse Heylen has swapped the tension of elite competition for the buzz of a tatami packed with kids. In Lommel, the Belgian veteran has turned a local opportunity into a long-term project through the Ilse Heylen Judo Academy. When the International Tournament of Lommel, the Soeverein Cup, ended after its last edition, the local club and chairman Jean-Jacques Melotte offered her the date to create something new. Because her academy is not based in the city, turning it into a training camp instead of a tournament felt like the natural move.

A former Olympic medal becomes a starting point, not the finish line.

From day one, Heylen and her team were ready for a slow build, accepting that the first years might be small and challenging. Now the camp enters a new phase with official support from the European Judo Union, a partnership that means a lot to her after 20 years of competing at EJU events. For almost a decade since retiring, she has been sharing Kano’s message with kids, youth and adults, from absolute beginners to experienced judoka. With the EJU, she hopes to secure a permanent place on the European calendar and attract participants from across the continent.

One of the big strengths of the project is the setting in Lommel’s Soeverein Sportshall. The venue can host up to 2000 square metres of tatami, offers proper changing rooms, meals right next to the mat and meeting rooms for future workshops or seminars. Just two kilometres away, the CenterParcs holiday centre provides hotel rooms and cottages for groups of different sizes, plus plenty of activities for parents, friends and family. It turns the camp into a mix of hard randori and relaxed off-mat time.

On the tatami, Heylen clearly separates the needs of elite athletes from those of children. Top competitors must deliver results and handle pressure; kids should first enjoy learning, make new friends and discover the fun side of judo. She wants them to taste many aspects of the sport so that some may later feel drawn to competition. Core values like friendship and respect are always present, from taking care of your partner when throwing to being kind off the mat.

Heylen works hard to build a safe yet challenging environment by getting to know the young judoka as individuals, so their confidence can grow. The most rewarding moments for her come after three intense days, when athletes, coaches and volunteers leave tired but happy. Together with the Belgian Judo Federation, the city and the EJU, she dreams of turning this camp into a mass event recognised all over Europe. Registration for the 2026 edition is already open and the next chapter of this European judo story is in motion.

Source: EJU_News