The LA2028 race is about to start, and Europe’s young judoka are stepping in

Olympic qualification for LA2028 is almost here, and the judo world is moving from preparation into reality. The first ranking points will be awarded at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in Mongolia on 19–21 June, shortly after an intense Olympic Training Camp in Benidorm brought together leading athletes from Europe and beyond.

That shift changes everything. What still looks far away on a calendar suddenly becomes immediate once the qualification cycle begins. In judo, one tournament can change momentum, confidence and opportunity.

For some athletes, this path is already familiar. For others, it is the beginning of a completely new chapter, with all the pressure and hope that comes with chasing an Olympic place.

Among the European names stepping into this campaign for the first time is Mihajlo Simin of Serbia. His bronze medal at this year’s Senior European Championships in Tbilisi marked a major breakthrough and gave him a new level of belief.

After that result, Simin said he no longer questions whether he belongs at that level. Instead, he feels he can fight with the same rivals and has set his sights on a world medal. He also has support close at hand through his partner, two-time Olympian Marica Perišić, whose experience offers a valuable guide for the long road ahead.

For first-timers, belief can be as important as ranking points.

April Fohouo of Switzerland is in a similar moment. Also a bronze medallist at the 2026 senior Europeans, she is preparing for her first Olympic qualification cycle with excitement and clear awareness of what it demands.

Fohouo described the Olympic Games as the biggest goal in an athlete’s career and said she is proud to be part of the journey. She has spoken with teammate Binta Ndiaye, who has already experienced the process, and that perspective seems to matter. When asked about sacrifice, her answer was simple: the biggest cost so far has been her social life, but for her, it is worth it.

That honesty captures a central truth of Olympic qualification. It is not built only on medals or standout performances. It is also shaped by routine, discipline and the quiet decisions athletes make every day.

Few understand that better than France’s Romane Dicko. The double Olympic medallist knows qualification is not something won in a single event. It takes consistency, patience and the ability to handle stress over a long period.

Her message to younger judoka is direct: be brave, expect hard moments, and keep going even after losses. Dicko also offered an important perspective on the word “sacrifice.” For her, these are not sacrifices imposed from outside, but hard choices made in pursuit of a goal.

Qualification is not one big moment. It is months of showing up.

The wider field includes experienced names such as Olympic champion Yeldos Smetov and world champion Inal Tasoev, both stressing the same essentials: discipline, mental strength and constant work. Their words reinforce the mood around this next phase of the judo calendar.

Now the countdown has a competitive edge. The road to Los Angeles will be decided through weekends of pressure, ranking points and repeated tests under international intensity. Some judoka are chasing a first Olympic appearance. Others are trying to add another chapter to careers that have already delivered at the highest level.

For Europe’s emerging contenders, the opening step is finally here. The waiting is nearly over, and the qualification battle is ready to begin.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union