Tbilisi spotlight: Georgia’s judo leaders carry history, pressure and belief into the Europeans

As Europe’s top judoka arrive in Tbilisi for the 2026 European Championships, the host nation steps into a special kind of spotlight. For Georgia’s leading men, this is not just another major event on the calendar. Their words make it clear that judo in Georgia is tied to culture, memory and the way the country sees itself.

Luka Maisuradze, the 2023 world champion at -90 kg, describes judo as something deeply rooted in Georgian life. He links the sport to fighting spirit, respect and discipline, and also to the country’s traditional wrestling heritage. That connection, he suggests, is one reason Georgia continues to produce elite athletes and draw such passionate support.

Ilia Sulamanidze, Olympic silver medallist at Paris 2024 and reigning European champion at -100 kg, speaks in a similar way. For him, judo reflects the struggles and resilience that are part of Georgian history. Giorgi Sardalashvili, the 2024 world champion at -60 kg, points to the bond between athletes and fans, a bond that could be felt strongly once the competition begins in Tbilisi.

Home support could give Georgia real extra energy this week.

When the conversation turns to defining moments, Maisuradze highlights Irakli Tsirekidze’s Olympic gold in 2008 as especially significant. He also points to the example of Lasha Shavdatuashvili, whose full set of Olympic medals, plus world and European titles, has made him one of the great figures of Georgian judo. In the -90 kg division, Maisuradze sees a category with a special Georgian legacy, reinforced by the all-Georgian world final in 2023 against Lasha Bekauri.

The athletes also describe a clear national style. Georgian judo is presented as close-distance judo, shaped by traditional wrestling and rich in ashi-waza and te-waza. Sulamanidze mentions Mogverdi, bruni, Khabareli and gadavleba, while Sardalashvili refers to o-goshi, ouchi-gari and ura-nage. At the same time, Maisuradze insists Georgian athletes are not limited to one approach and can also be effective in katame-waza.

That balance now meets expectation. Sulamanidze is aiming to defend his European crown at home, while Sardalashvili says the home setting gives him double motivation rather than extra pressure. Their message is confident but simple: titles matter, but on the tatami only the strongest performance in that moment counts.

Source: EJU_News