Home roar lifts Tushishvili to European heavyweight crown in Tbilisi

Guram Tushishvili delivered a huge finish to Georgia’s campaign at the European Judo Championships Seniors 2026 in Tbilisi. In the +100 kg final, he defeated Czech star Lukas Krpalek, giving the host nation a fourth gold medal at the event.

This was not just another title for the Georgian heavyweight. Tushishvili became European champion for the third time in his career, but winning in front of a home crowd clearly gave this one extra meaning. His previous European title had come in 2017, so the return to the top of the continental podium carried real emotional weight.

Tbilisi got the ending the home fans had hoped for.

Tushishvili said the moment felt special because it happened in his own city, in front of his own people. Now 31, he also described how age and experience have changed the way he sees success. Compared with his earlier triumphs, this gold seemed to mean even more.

The final itself was a major European heavyweight clash. Krpalek came in as a two-time Olympic champion and one of the most respected judoka in the sport. Tushishvili knew he would need to be ready for a long and difficult battle, and he said afterward that he had prepared to fight all the way to the end.

There was also a strong European angle in the matchup beyond the Georgian win. Krpalek once again showed why he remains one of the key figures in continental judo, even if this time he had to settle for silver. It was a final between two established names, and that gave the result even more value.

For Tushishvili, the medal was part of a much longer story. This was his 11th senior European championship since 2014, a journey filled with major titles and painful losses. That background made the win in Tbilisi feel especially personal.

After the final, his message was simple and heartfelt. He thanked the crowd for the support and said he had done everything he could to make them happy on the day.

Source: EJU_News