The results reflect the depth of this women’s field. Judoka from across Europe and beyond reached the podium, underlining both the diversity of the event and the enduring strength of the veteran community. Every contest carried its own intensity, combining experience earned over years on the tatami with a determination that was as visible in the opening exchanges as it was in the final moments of the day.
For many of the competitors, Sarajevo was the latest chapter in a long judo journey. Some have remained connected to the sport throughout their lives; others have returned to competition after years devoted to work, family, coaching, refereeing or club life. All arrived with the same willingness to test themselves, to share the experience and to represent their countries with pride.
The women’s competition also offered a reminder of the direction in which judo continues to move. Although female participation remains lower in veteran events than on the World Judo Tour, the athletes competing in Sarajevo embody a growing and increasingly visible community. Their presence matters not only for the championships themselves but also for the girls and young women who can see that judo is a sport in which a lifelong journey is possible.
With the final medals awarded, the World Veteran Championships now comes to a close. Over five days, Sarajevo welcomed generations of judoka, 1,347 competitors from 65 nations and all five continents. The event celebrated competitive spirit, but it also revealed the daily reality of the judo family: friendship renewed, knowledge exchanged and a shared attachment to the values that give the sport its meaning.
The programme in Sarajevo is far from over though. An exceptional new chapter begins on Friday with the Special Olympics Judo Open Sarajevo 2026. Special Olympics judoka will compete in shiai on Friday before taking part in kata disciplines on Saturday. Their presence at the heart of this world-level programme will be a powerful expression of inclusion, opportunity and belonging.
The World Kata Championships will begin on Saturday and continue on Sunday, bringing another form of judo excellence to the same city. Together, the Special Olympics Judo Open and the World Kata Championships will extend the message already carried by the veterans: judo has many expressions, many pathways and a place for everyone.
Sarajevo has already delivered five memorable days. The weekend ahead promises to add two more important pages to this celebration of global judo.
At the end of an intense day of judo, two outstanding champions were honoured for winning ten veteran world titles: Sylvia Hackel geb. Strube (GER) and Joyce Malley (GBR).
VETERANS F1
-48 kg
- 1. PASTORINO Anastasia Francesca (ITA)
- 2. ARNAUDET Jennifer (FRA)
- 3. BINDER Fabienne (GER)
-52 kg
- 1. GARCIA Angelique (FRA)
- 2. GAZDELIANI Eka (GEO)
- 3. AZEVEDO Lenita (BRA)
- 4. GARREAU Maelle (FRA)
-57 kg
- 1. CIERPISZ Marine (FRA)
- 2. DUTERTRE Elise (FRA)
- 3. QUATTRINI Priscilla (ITA)
-63 kg
- 1. BAGOT Sarah (FRA)
- 2. TIRARD Clementine (FRA)
- 3. KADDOUR Emeline (NCL)
- 3. GRENOT Audrey (FRA)
-70 kg
- 1. PENHA Claudia (BRA)
- 2. REAL Maelle (FRA)
- 3. FRITSCH Martina (SUI)
- 4. GAULTIER Estelle (FRA)
-78 kg
- 1. ERB Marine (FRA)
- 2. FARIA RIBEIRO Barbara (BRA)
- 3. DELAIRE Lucie (FRA)
+78 kg
- 1. HARACIC Sabina (BIH)
- 2. BATT Danielle (GBR)
- 3. COSSON Chloe (FRA)
VETERANS F2
-48 kg
- 1. DOS SANTOS Daryene (BRA)
- 2. NAGY Angelique (FRA)
- 3. GRADISTEANU Maricela (ROU)
-57 kg
- 1. PEPERA Beata (POL)
- 2. SVATON Ludmila (CZE)
- 3. SEKER Fatma (TUR)
- 4. D'ERRICO Gala (ITA)
-63 kg
- 1. HERDZIK Izabela (POL)
- 2. DUNNING Becky (GBR)
- 3. MARTIN Sabrina (FRA)
- 3. HAUSSY Sandy (BEL)
-70 kg
- 1. KODESOVA Hana (CZE)
- 2. ESCHENAUER Jessica (GER)
- 3. BEZRACZKO Agnieszka (POL)
- 3. GARCIA Luisa (POR)
-78 kg
- 1. ZAHL Christina (GER)
- 2. MULLARD Priscillia (FRA)
- 3. BEKKOUCHE Sorraya (FRA)
VETERANS F3
-57 kg
- 1. DEGRIJSE Valerie (BEL)
- 2. BOCQUENE Laetitia (FRA)
- 3. DURIEZ Angelique (FRA)
- 3. MARTIN Vanessa (FRA)
-63 kg
- 1. MARTINOVIC Mirjana (MNE)
- 2. FORSBERG Emmylie (SWE)
- 3. MEIGNEN Jennifer (FRA)
- 3. BLOT Laetitia (FRA)
-70 kg
- 1. GOOSSENS Hannelore (BEL)
- 2. BATTISTELLA Lara (ITA)
- 3. ADAMS Kylie (GBR)
- 4. SARICZKI Caterina (GER)
-78 kg
- 1. ZANNONI Jessica (SMR)
- 2. GUIMARD Blandine (FRA)
- 3. BOUSSIQUAULT Valerie (FRA)
- 3. DO CANTO Ana Paula (BRA)
+78 kg
- 1. PARPINELLI Ana Paula (BRA)
- 2. KLAVER Linda (NED)
- 3. MACHY Melanie (FRA)
- 4. MUELLER Julia (GER)
VETERANS F4
-48 kg
- 1. YAMAMOTO Natsuko (JPN)
- 2. COPIN Nathalie (FRA)
- 3. ARSLAN Nihal (TUR)
-52 kg
- 1. FOEILLET Elodie (FRA)
- 2. D'AMARIO Alessandra (ITA)
- 3. COSTA Carolina (POR)
- 3. MORENO VELAZQUEZ Miriam (ESP)
-57 kg
- 1. ROESSLER Nadine (GER)
- 2. KASEORG Katarzyna (SWE)
- 3. CORIASCO Claudia (ITA)
- 4. FOERCH Sylvia (GER)
-63 kg
- 1. SOARES RIBEIRO Rosangela (BRA)
- 2. MARCHENKOVA Svetlana (RUS)
- 3. VRSOVSKA Anezka (CZE)
- 3. ROLAND Delphine (FRA)
-70 kg
- 1. BRUNET Julie (FRA)
- 2. MIRKOVIC Biljana (SRB)
- 3. VELTEN Marion (GER)
- 4. GLENZ Simone (GER)
-78 kg
- 1. PIHLAK Evelin (EST)
- 2. HYPOLITE Laurence (FRA)
- 3. POSTOLEA Irina (ROU)
+78 kg
- 1. MAGINI Cristina (ITA)
- 2. COLMART Maeva (FRA)
- 3. BARBAKA Sandra (LAT)
- 4. MCALPINE Amanda (CAN)
VETERANS F5
-57 kg
- 1. SMITHSON Samantha (GBR)
- 2. ROLDAN VIAR Ana (ESP)
- 3. CHAN Fiona (GBR)
- 4. PRAHL Marita (SWE)
-63 kg
- 1. KULAKOWSKA Aneta (POL)
- 2. LOVGREN Cathrine (NOR)
- 3. ARUS Simona (ROU)
- 3. SATO Marika (ITA)
-70 kg
- 1. GODOT Murielle (FRA)
- 2. CABRERA Margarita (USA)
- 3. BOUCHER Sonia (FRA)
-78 kg
- 1. MOLIN Annika (SWE)
- 2. KONIGOVA Lenka (CZE)
- 3. ASLANDZIA Ekaterine (GEO)
- 3. PETER Kamilla (HUN)
VETERANS F6
-57 kg
- 1. STEREA Lena (ROU)
- 2. STEINER Muriel (SWE)
- 3. PINEAU Anne-Cecile (FRA)
- 4. SCHOENHARDT Karoline (AUT)
VETERANS F7
-52 kg
- 1. VAN DE VOORDE Annick (BEL)
- 2. RITCHIE Lydia (IRL)
- 3. SANT Odile (FRA)
- 4. DELL ACCIO Rosanna (ITA)
-57 kg
- 1. HACKEL Sylvia (GER)
- 2. BERTRAND Leila (FRA)
- 3. MYRNES Hanne (NOR)
- 3. HELARY Edith (FRA)
-63 kg
- 1. FALLANI Giada (ITA)
- 2. SESTIERI Gianna (ITA)
- 3. MALLEY Joyce (GBR)
-70 kg
- 1. LAGRASTA Beatrice (FRA)
- 2. GUEMATI Maha Aida (ITA)
- 3. MILLOT Isabelle (FRA)
+78 kg
- 1. SAVREUX Mireille (FRA)
- 2. GAUTIER Stephanie (FRA)
- 3. VARAREANU Brindusa (ROU)
VETERANS F8
-78 kg
- 1. ANDREWS Kay (GBR)
- 2. DUFRESNE Francoise (FRA)
- 3. SALMON Monique (FRA)
