Seoi-otoshi Decides Budapest Finale for Guilherme Schimidt

Guilherme Schimidt of Brazil captured -90 kg gold in Budapest after a late Seoi-otoshi ended a tense final against Serbia’s Boris Rutovic. The decisive throw was first scored as Waza-ari before being upgraded to Ippon, delivering Schimidt’s third Grand Slam title.

The 25-year-old arrived as world number nine and faced a difficult contest against Rutovic, who is ranked 15th among seniors and second among juniors. Schimidt received the first Shido of the final and picked up a second penalty late in the contest, leaving him under serious pressure.

With less than a minute left, however, Schimidt moved beneath Rutovic and found the perfectly timed Seoi-otoshi. The quick upgrade to Ippon settled the final and gave the Brazilian his second Budapest title.

Under pressure late in the final, Schimidt produced the throw that mattered most.

The result had extra meaning for Schimidt, who said he was competing one year after surgery and after moving up from -81 kg to -90 kg. He had previously won in Budapest at -81 kg and described this as his first -90 kg Grand Slam victory, adding that he now feels fully adapted to the category and stronger without a severe weight cut.

Rutovic still leaves Budapest with another major result in a breakthrough 2026 season. The 20-year-old Serbian had won his first Grand Slam title at the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam in Astana, where he also defeated Schimidt, and later took bronze at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam. His Budapest silver came after another close meeting with the Brazilian.

European athletes also took both bronze medals in the category. Mihail Latisev of Moldova opened his contest against Astemir Abazov with a reverse Seoi-otoshi for Yuko, then added two further scoring attacks: a counter for Waza-ari and a Seoi-otoshi for another Waza-ari.

Great Britain’s Lachlan Moorhead claimed the second bronze against Yahor Varapayeu. With both judoka carrying two Shido, Moorhead found the key score in the final minute with a forward Kata-guruma.

Schimidt now adds Budapest gold to a 2026 record that already included silver medals at the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam and Qingdao Grand Prix, plus bronze at the Tbilisi Grand Slam and Lima Grand Prix.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation