European Para judo medallists share why they love the sport

When Para judoka Zeynep Celik takes the mat, the whole Turkish team is rooting for her. Even though it is just her and her opponent facing each other, she feels like the whole team is behind her every move. 

For her, Para judo is a team sport. When she is not competing, she is often the loudest one in the crowd, cheering for other Turkish athletes. 

“We are a big team and the Turkish public supports us. We are enjoyable and cheerful. We don’t give much thought to our disability – we like this life but we want to be successful, also at the Paralympic Games,” said Celik, the bronze medallist in the women’s -57kg category at Tokyo 2020. 

“There is no difference between Para judo and Olympic judo, they are the same. In Turkey, we are always together, all of the athletes – Para athletes and non-Para athletes.” 

Celik took up judo when she was 18 years old, after her high school teacher suggested she give it a try. She enjoyed the martial art from the very beginning – she loved fighting other athletes and judo became a “therapy” to her. 

“Judo is my way to success. It’s my history. I can’t stay without training. I enjoy practicing throwing people during training. Working hard and being very disciplined is the key to success.” 

Diving into Para judo 

Para judo is practiced by athletes with vision impairment. While it is based on the same skills, movements, and techniques as the sighted version of the sport, the athletes rely on their senses and instincts more during competition. 

One of a few differences between Para judo and judo is the way a bout starts. When they start or restart a match, athletes begin with a grip on their opponent’s clothing called ‘judogi’. The scoring system awards an ippon (one point) for a conclusive technique that wins a match by its successful execution including a full throw, a waza-ari (half point), and minor points (called yuko).  

At the inaugural European Para Championships, Para judo athletes took centre stage at Rotterdam Ahoy. The full range of emotions was on display on the ‘tatami’ mat – smiles and tears after a good victory, celebrations with teammates, and disappointment after a loss. But in the end, the athletes shared their love and passion for the sport. 

For Celik, the reigning world champion in the women’s -57kg J2 category, she will remember Rotterdam fondly as the “first place I won a silver medal” in individual competition. She lost to Ukraine’s Inna Sych in the final before wrapping up her time in the Netherlands with a gold in the women’s team event. 

And with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games one year away, Celik and Para judokas from around the world are preparing to compete on the biggest stage.  

We asked the medallists at the European Para Championships what they like about the sport and why you should follow their journeys in the French capital next year. 

Two gladiators on a mat 

“My favourite thing about judo is the sheer physicality of it and people love to come because it’s just two gladiators fighting on a mat,” said Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist Christopher Skelley. 

“To get an ippon is amazing because you know then that you’ve won the fight and to get a waza-ari, you know you have to your cards to get that second one,” he said about the scoring system. “To get that ippon, it’s just sheer relief and pleased that it’s done.” 

Two summers ago in Tokyo, Skelley won the men’s -100kg category at the Nippon Budokan, known as the spiritual home of Japanese martial arts – especially judo.  

“Winning in Tokyo was the best moment of my life and it was such a special moment for me because it was one of my dreams that I achieved,” he said. “My biggest aim in life is to be a double Paralympic champion.” 

At the European Para Championships, Skelley finished with silver in the over 90kg J2 event, losing to Revaz Chikoidze of Georgia. But he shared what it means for him to compete on the world stage, including the first multi-Para sport European Championships. 

“We have to show people that whatever your disability is, there is always something out there for you. Disability is your superpower. And I think that power is on show today.” 

More than passion 

Moldova’s Oleg Cretul took up judo when he was 10 years old and has continued the sport for nearly 40 years. He competed at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games before transitioning to the Paralympic Games, winning the men’s -90kg event at Beijing 2008 while representing Russia. 

“For me, judo is all of my life. I want to tell people who want to choose to start judo that judo makes you stronger, it gives you strong spirit and character, and one of the best things is the friendship between judoka,” said Cretul. 

In Rotterdam, 48-year-old Cretul topped the podium in the men’s -90kg J1 event, beating Great Britain’s Daniel Powell, who is more than 15 years younger than him, in golden time. J1 classification stands for blind athletes. 

“Para judo is difficult. Blind athletes can’t do judo by themselves and need someone to lead them. This is a big obstacle that needs to be overcome every day. I can’t train alone and I need support from the coach,” he said.  

“But the Olympic and Paralympic athletes all work hard to become medallists.” 

Enjoy the explosiveness in Paris 

Raised by parents who are judo athletes, Nathan Petit, who captured the bronze medal in the men’s -73kg J2 at the European Para Championships, aims to take his home country by storm when France hosts the Paris 2024 Paralympics.  

“The Paralympic Games in Paris will have three days of Para judo. I think it’s a great place for people who don’t know Para judo to discover it,” said Petit, who finished fifth in his Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020.  

“There are short matches of four minutes only. It’s not too long, it’s explosive, it’s a spectacular sport. We can see spectacular techniques, beautiful things so I recommend everyone who doesn’t know Para judo very much to watch Para judo in Paris.” 

Interested in following the athletes’ journey to Paris 2024? The 2023 IBSA Judo World Championships (IBSA World Games) will take place from 18-27 August 2023 in Birmingham, Great Britain. Find out more on the IBSA website.

The inaugural European Para Championships taking place in the Netherlands feature 1,500 athletes competing across 10 Para sports. Visit the European Para Championships website for full results and to watch live coverage.