Kortrijk’s warmest judo moment: Vandecaveye and Werbrouck step into adapted judo

Two names that once carried Belgian judo onto the biggest stages—Gella Vandecaveye and Ulla Werbrouck—returned to the edge of the tatami in Kortrijk. This time, they weren’t there to fight. At the Triglav Insurance Get Together Tournament Kortrijk 2026, both Olympic icons chose something different: to be present, to mix in, and to feel the room as the inaugural Adapted Judo Tour landed on Belgian soil.

They didn’t stay distant as ceremonial guests. They leaned into the day, sharing smiles, conversations, and the kind of simple connection that sport can create when the result isn’t the only story.

Sometimes the biggest shift is swapping pressure for pure joy.

For Werbrouck, the Olympic champion from Atlanta, it was a fresh experience that quietly challenged her competitive instincts. She praised the organisation and the “good vibes,” pointing to a scene that would have felt unusual in her own era: athletes laughing even after a loss, coaches happy, and a tournament atmosphere built around fun as much as contest.

That contrast hit home. She described how, during her career, the mindset was all about winning. In Kortrijk, she felt a different definition of success—less technical, more emotional, and surprisingly warm. The word kept coming back as she tried to explain what made the day special.

Her life has moved on since the podium years. Weekends now revolve around family and football pitches, supporting her three sons. Judo may not fill her schedule anymore, but it still sits inside her identity. If she could be 15 again, she said she would do it all again—immediately.

Beside her, Vandecaveye brought a message she has carried for years: sport and physical activity are a fundamental right, including for people with disability. For her, adapted judo isn’t a one-off event; it’s a mission to “break the isolation” and make sure nobody is left watching from the sidelines.

Vandecaveye’s point was simple: participation builds friends, confidence, and belonging.

Even with her background in inclusive sport, she was struck by how professional the European initiative looked and sounded. In her home city of Kortrijk, Belgian judo’s past didn’t just observe inclusion—it actively embraced it.

Source: EJU_News