Nearly 3,000 Judoka, Six Events, One Packed June for European Judo

European Judo stayed in constant motion throughout June 2026, with the European Judo Union running a full program across senior, junior, and cadet levels. Across six major events and three training camps in six countries, 2,948 judoka took part over 22 days.

The month stretched across Austria, Estonia, Croatia, Germany, Czechia, and Spain, showing just how wide the EJU calendar can reach in a short window. From European Open action to cadet championship battles and large-scale preparation camps, June brought both volume and quality to the mat.

One of the clearest signs of that intensity came in Poreč, Croatia, where the month’s biggest attendance figures were recorded. Two camps ran at the same venue over six days, with the Senior Olympic Training Camp drawing more than 600 athletes from over 40 nations, while the Cadet Training Camp gathered more than 200 young judoka.

Poreč became the busiest training hub of the month.

The competitive side told its own story. Across EJU events in June, 42 countries won medals. That group included 36 European nations, along with five from Asia and one from the Americas. Even more striking, 25 countries reached the top of the podium with at least one gold medal finish.

At the Tallinn European Open, Italy, Estonia, and Latvia led the way. Italy finished with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals, while both Estonia and Latvia collected 2 gold medals each. For the host nation Estonia, that result added extra energy to the weekend.

In Berlin, the Junior European Cup and Training Camp delivered another strong European showing. France topped the performances listed there with 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Georgia and Ukraine also stood out, underlining the strength and depth that continues to drive junior judo in Europe.

Prague then offered another shift in momentum. Germany led the way at the European Open with 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals, ahead of Kazakhstan and Austria. For Germany and Austria, it was another solid European contribution in a month already packed with international pressure and opportunity.

Germany made a strong statement in Prague.

The month closed with the “Millennium Team” European Judo Championships Cadets in Gran Canaria, where 43 countries and 425 judoka came together. The event placed Europe’s top youth athletes on the continental stage, and the medal table reflected that depth. Slovenia finished among the top performers with 3 gold and 1 silver, while Bulgaria also impressed with 2 gold and 2 bronze medals.

That final cadet championship added a clear message to the numbers: Europe’s next generation is already pushing hard. June was not just busy for the EJU. It was a month that showed scale, development, and the growing strength of European judo from youth level to senior preparation.

June showed the depth of European judo at every age level.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union