Barbara Matić : Gold in the weight category -70 kg
Home nation Croatia’s highest hope for a European title was indeed world number #1 in the -70 kg category, Barbara Matić . The former double World Champion exceeded the expectations in style and was able to capture her first ever European title in the senior category and raise the flag for the home nation. For Croatia’s darling, there is now only one title missing in her collection - The Olympic title - and she is en route to Paris to get it.
Lara Cvjetko: Bronze in the category -70 kg
Matić could share the podium with teammate Lara Cvjetko, who could be thrilled about coming away with her first medal at a senior European Championship - A bronze medal. Cvjetko has been absent from competition due to injury since December but showed this weekend, that she is clearly back in business. What could be a better comeback than to clinch a European medal on home soil?
Renata Zachova: Gold in the weight category -63 kg
Renata Zachova wrote history for Czech Republic as she captured the European title in the category -63 kg and became the first ever Czech woman to win a European medal on senior level. What an achievement for this young lady! Zachova won her last medal on the IJF World Tour back in 2022, but this weekend she could find herself at the top of the podium, listening to the Czech national anthem.
Anna-Maria Wagner: Silver in the weight category -78 kg
The runner-up in the category -78 kg was Anna-Maria Wagner of Germany, who could be delighted about reaching the final of the European Championships for the first time in her career. The world number #3, Wagner, has had a terrific year and has only once missed out on a medal – The tall German is surely on great form.
Krisztian Toth: Silver in the weight category -90 kg
Krisztian Toth of Hungary was awarded a silver medal in the category -90 kg. Toth is one of the most experienced athletes in the -90 kg category and has won more than 30 medals on the IJF World Tour. The Hungarian won his first medal at a senior European Championship 10 years ago and this weekend, he could add his 5th European medal to his impressive collection.
Reka Pupp: Bronze in the category -52 kg
Hungarian lightweight Reka Pupp could celebrate a bronze medal in the -52 category, the second European medal of her career. Pupp just missed out on a medal at last year’s European Championships in Montpellier, but this year, she was able to swop the 5th place for a bronze medal. Pupp is always a force to be reckoned with in the -52 kg category and is as well on great form at the moment.
Bence Pongracz: Bronze in the weight category -66 kg
Hungary's Bence Pongracz had his senior European Championships debut this weekend and what a debut! Pongracz has only made a few appearances on the IJF World Tour and came into the competition as world rank #85. However, the Hungarian showed that he was not here to just take part and captured a bronze medal in the -66 kg category.
Shamil Borchashvili: Bronze in the weight category -81 kg
Shamil Borchashvili of Austria could be thrilled about capturing a bronze medal in the -81 kg category, his first medal at a European Championship. The strong Austrian athlete was already an Olympic- and World medalist and this weekend, he was able to add another major medal to his collection.
Congratulations to our athletes for the great results this weekend! We are proud to stand behind you all, on the way to the Olympic Games in Paris.
