Unprecedented Participation Expected at Austrian Judo Championships

The Austrian under-16 and under-21 Judo Championships are poised to be the largest ever, with an astounding number of participants converging on Deutschlandsberg, Styria. Tournament Director Thomas Stückler expressed his amazement at the record-breaking figures, stating, There have never been, these numbers are incredible. The Koralm-Halle will host the intense competitions, starting at 9:30 a.m. this weekend.

Student and Junior Divisions Attract Massive Turnout

Saturday’s student division will feature an remarkable 250 young judokas from 63 clubs, all vying for the coveted title of champion. Sunday will see 208 junior athletes, representing 54 clubs, stepping onto the mat. To put this into viewpoint, last year’s championships in Krems saw 229 and 164 participants respectively, highlighting the meaningful growth in interest and participation in Austrian youth judo.

Key Statistics and Participating Teams

Upper Austria leads the pack in terms of participation,with 71 athletes in the U-16 category and 67 in the U-21 category. Host state Styria is also well-represented, with a total of 53 judokas (34 in U-16 and 19 in U-21). unsurprisingly, UJZ Mühlviertel, the largest club in Austria, boasts the highest number of participants, with 30 athletes competing.

Junior Division: Title Defenses and Notable Athletes

Several prominent athletes are expected to compete in the junior division on Sunday. Carina Klaus Sternwieser (-52kg) and Marlene Schinwald (-57kg), both A-squad athletes, are among the contenders. Other notable names include Helene Rottenhofer (-70kg), Niklas Weitzbauer (-81kg), and Ronald Pröll (-90kg). Four current champions will be defending their titles: Isabella Stögmann (-48kg), Marlene Schinwald (-57kg), Michael Pröll (-81kg), and Lukas Angerer (+100kg). Yann Ornik, the -55kg champion from last year, will be competing in a different weight category this year.

Last year’s U-21 championships saw intense competition, with several athletes emerging as dominant forces in their respective weight classes. the return of these champions promises an exciting showdown this year.

Student division: New Challenges for Former champions

In the U-16 division, none of last year’s champions will be defending their titles in the same weight class. Luca Leingruber, the -38kg champion in 2024, will compete in the -46kg category this year. Similarly, Christoph Schuster, the -42kg champion, will move up to the -50kg category, and the -46kg gold medalist from JZ Innsbruck will also be competing in a new weight class.

Age Range Highlights Youthful Talent

The youngest athlete in the student division is Thelonius Tiefenbach, born on November 12th, 2012, making him 12 years old. The oldest is Chamom Magomedov Alijewitsch, born on January 29th, 2010, who is 15 years old. This represents a difference of 1,018 days, or approximately 2 years, 9 months, and 14 days, showcasing the diverse age range within the competition.

Junior Division: Age Disparity and Rising Stars

in the junior division, Laurin Makula is the youngest competitor, while Djabrail Abdullaev, born on January 10th, 2005, is the oldest, highlighting the varying levels of experience among the participants.

Transitioning from U-16 to Junior Level

Selina Wögerer and Michaela Höllwart, who won U-16 titles in Krems, will be making their debut in the junior division this year, presenting a new challenge as they face more experienced competitors.

Stay Updated with Live Results and Streams

For those unable to attend in person, live results and live streams will be available for both the U-16 and U-21 championships. Don’t miss the action!

ÖM U16 (sat, 29.03.2025): ÖM U21 (Sun, 30.03.2025):