How Niko Sherazadishvili Rebuilt Himself Without Losing His Judo

Niko Sherazadishvili’s story is not just about medals. In a long and candid JudoPod conversation, the Spanish star looks back at the moves, sacrifices and setbacks that shaped him, from his childhood in Georgia to the pressure of staying at the top of world judo.

Born in Georgia and later formed in Spain, Sherazadishvili arrived at 13 without speaking the language. He knew only “hola,” but adapted quickly through school, judo and a willingness to keep going even when mistakes came. That same fearless attitude would later define his career.

The dojo became home long before the medals arrived.

His first influence was his father, also a judoka, who pushed him toward judo when young Niko would rather have played football with friends. The discipline started early, with running, pull-ups and hard training. What may not have felt like his choice at first slowly became the path that built him.

In Spain, Quino Ruiz became much more than a coach. Sherazadishvili describes him as a second father, a mentor and part of a dojo culture that cared about people as much as performance. That environment helped turn talent into commitment.

As a cadet, he decided to go all in. Long school days were followed by running, physical preparation and judo, often for hours. Later, he learned a more complete version of professionalism: not only training hard, but also resting properly and eating well.

That mindset took him to the top. In 2018, in Baku, with family and supporters around him, Sherazadishvili won his first world title. He remembers being calm in the final, trusting himself in golden score and waiting for the right moment. It was a historic result for Spain and an emotional one for the people closest to him.

A second world title came in 2021 in Budapest, confirming his place among the elite. But success brought a different challenge. Sherazadishvili admits he began to expect perfection from himself. Winning alone did not always satisfy him; he wanted control, throws and total dominance. In time, he understood that balance matters too.

Success can raise the pressure as much as the standard.

Then came a major turning point. The -90 kg division was no longer sustainable, with weight cutting becoming too difficult and unhealthy. Moving to -100 kg was necessary, but it was not easy. His physical, grip-based style needed time and strength to adjust to the new category.

Even so, he did not want to lose the essence of his judo. That may be the most striking part of his story now: evolution without abandoning identity. Today, he has a world bronze medal at -100 kg and a steadier sense of what he wants from competition.

There is still one result that hurts. The Olympic Games remain unfinished business after a 5th-place finish in 2024. But the tone now is different. Sherazadishvili is no longer chasing perfection at any cost. He wants to arrive ready, calm and free enough to express his judo.

His journey feels powerful because it is honest. Double world champion, medal winner in a new weight category, and still evolving, Sherazadishvili shows that greatness in judo is not only about winning. It is also about adapting, learning and continuing forward with heart.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation