Irakli Goginashvili Makes History as GB’s First Male Junior European Champion in 25 Years

Day two of the 2025 Junior European Championships proved unforgettable for Great Britain as Irakli Goginashvili claimed gold in the -73kg category to become the nation’s first male Junior European Champion in 25 years.

From the very start, Irakli Goginashvili (Palavani) showcased his class, dispatching Cyprus’ Iakovos Kurauli in the Round of 32 with a decisive Ippon in just over a minute.

The Round of 16 brought a sterner test against Moldova’s Renat Croitoru, with the contest extending into Golden Score. Both athletes displayed remarkable resilience, but Croitoru’s third shido ensured Goginashvili’s progression to the quarter-finals.

Momentum continued to build as Goginashvili battled through a gruelling nine-minute contest in the quarter-finals before sealing victory with another Ippon.

In the semi-final, the British judoka controlled the fight against Bulgaria’s Victor Skerlev, scoring an early Waza-ari followed by a Yuko. He managed the remainder of the bout with composure, booking his place in the European Championship final.

The gold medal contest against Sweden’s Narek Vardanian proved to be Goginashvili’s greatest challenge yet. With the title on the line, the match extended into a punishing six minutes of Golden Score. Demonstrating unwavering determination, Goginashvili found the breakthrough to secure victory — and with it, his place in history.

This win is not only a personal milestone for Goginashvili but also a landmark moment for British Judo.

Congratulations go to Irakli, his club, coaches, and everyone who played their part in this extraordinary achievement.

It was also a strong day for Ben Levy (Budokwai) in the -73kg category, who secured a 5th-place finish after an impressive run of performances. Levy has been in excellent form throughout 2025, and today was no different.

While the podium narrowly escaped him on this occasion, his progress is clear to see, and attention now turns to the Junior World Championships.

In the -81kg category, Eryk Neumann (Hardy Spicer 83) opened with a dominant Round of 32 victory before bowing out in the Round of 16. It was nevertheless a valuable learning experience, gaining crucial mat time at a European Championships and testing himself against high-level opposition.

Congratulations to all three of our fighters, along with their clubs and coaches, on their performances today!

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