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A New Chapter Begins for the IJF World Tour
The International Judo Federation World Tour arrived in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the opening day delivered far more than a series of medal contests. It brought together Olympic history, rising stars, world champions and adaptive judo athletes in an event that celebrated one of the sport’s most important values: inclusion.
For the first time in Lausanne, the world’s elite judoka stepped onto the mats for a major IJF World Tour competition, but the atmosphere surrounding the opening day made this tournament particularly memorable. Inside the Vaudoise Arena, adaptive judo athletes competed alongside World Tour stars, sharing the same sporting stage and demonstrating that judo’s spirit extends far beyond medals and rankings.
The day also produced five gold medallists across the lightest weight categories. Marina Vorobeva, Yamato Fukuda, Gefen Primo, Kairi Kentoku and Eteri Liparteliani each reached the top of the podium, with several athletes securing landmark victories in their careers.
From spectacular throws to tense tactical battles,
Lausanne Welcomes the
Switzerland has long been associated with international sport, diplomacy and the Olympic movement, making Lausanne a particularly meaningful destination for the IJF World Tour.
Before the competition officially began, Olympic judo legends gathered at the International Olympic Committee building, where they signed a commemorative wall. The moment connected the history of the Olympic movement with the future of international judo.
International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer also spent time meeting potential future Olympians during a local masterclass. The event provided young athletes with an opportunity to experience the values and culture surrounding elite judo.
These moments helped create an atmosphere that went beyond the competition itself.
A Grand Slam tournament is ultimately about identifying the strongest athletes in the world, but judo also depends on its ability to inspire the next generation. Lausanne provided a setting where Olympic heritage, youth development and elite competition could exist together.
Adaptive Judo Takes Centre Stage in a Historic Moment
One of the most significant moments of the opening day came before the medal contests reached their climax.
Inside the Vaudoise Arena, adaptive judo athletes competed alongside the world’s leading judoka on the same mats. It was a powerful statement about accessibility and the inclusive future of the sport.
Adaptive athletes are often separated from mainstream sporting events, receiving less visibility despite their extraordinary dedication and achievements. Lausanne challenged that traditional separation by placing adaptive judo directly within the atmosphere of an elite international tournament.
The symbolism was impossible to ignore.
The same arena.
The same mats.
The same audience.
And the same spirit of competition.
For many athletes and spectators, this represented one of the most meaningful moments of the entire opening day. Judo has always promoted values such as mutual respect, courage and maximum efficiency, and the inclusion of adaptive athletes gave those principles a visible and practical meaning.
The decision also demonstrated how major sporting organizations can create stronger events by making inclusion part of the main experience rather than treating it as a separate activity.
Marina Vorobeva Captures Gold at -48kg
The
The lightweight division is traditionally one of the fastest and most explosive categories in international judo. Small technical mistakes can immediately become decisive, and Vorobeva demonstrated the precision required to survive the pressure of a Grand Slam final.
In the decisive contest, she secured victory with an arm lock, forcing her opponent into submission and bringing the contest to a definitive conclusion.
It was a technical victory that reflected the importance of versatility in modern judo.
While spectacular throws often receive the loudest reactions from the crowd, elite judoka must be dangerous in every phase of combat. A successful athlete needs strong gripping strategies, movement, balance, throwing ability and confidence on the ground.
Vorobeva showed that complete technical awareness can be just as important as explosive power.
Her gold medal was awarded by Sergey Soloveychik, President of the Russian Judo Federation.
The victory gave Vorobeva a memorable start to the Lausanne Grand Slam and established her as one of the standout performers of the opening day.
Yamato Fukuda Delivers a Stunning First Grand Slam Victory
Japan’s Yamato Fukuda produced one of the most spectacular moments of the day.
Watched by IJF President Marius Vizer and IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach, Fukuda demonstrated the kind of judo that can instantly change the energy inside an arena.
His decisive weapon was a powerful Ura-nage counter.
The technique was executed at exactly the right moment, turning his opponent’s movement into an opportunity and producing a massive scoring action.
It was not simply a victory.
It was a statement.
The win secured
Japanese judo athletes compete under enormous expectations because Japan remains deeply connected to the history and development of the sport. Every athlete wearing the Japanese flag faces a competitive domestic system filled with extraordinary talent.
For Fukuda, winning a first Grand Slam title represents more than a single successful tournament. It could become a turning point in his international career.
His medal was presented by IOC Member Aïcha Garad Ali.
Gefen Primo Wins Her Fourth Grand Slam Gold
The
Instead of a contest decided by one overwhelming technique, the battle became a close tactical encounter in which activity, pressure and initiative played a decisive role.
Gefen Primo ultimately emerged as the more active judoka, earning the judges’ decision and securing her fourth Grand Slam gold medal.
That achievement further strengthens
Winning a single major international title can sometimes depend on momentum, a favorable draw or one exceptional day. Winning repeatedly at Grand Slam level requires something much more difficult: consistency.
Primo has shown that she can remain competitive against the strongest athletes on the international circuit.
Her fourth Grand Slam gold is therefore not simply another medal. It represents sustained success against elite opposition.
IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach presented her with the gold medal, adding another memorable moment to the Lausanne event.
For Primo, the challenge now becomes maintaining that momentum as the international judo calendar continues.
Kairi Kentoku Wins an All-Japan Battle at -66kg
The
Whenever two Japanese judoka meet in an international final, the contest carries a special intensity.
Both athletes come from a nation with a deep technical tradition in the sport. Both understand the expectations associated with Japanese judo. And both know that success on the international stage can have an impact on future opportunities within one of the world’s most competitive national systems.
Kentoku ultimately delivered the defining moment.
A breathtaking Uchi-mata brought the final to life and secured his first-ever Grand Slam gold medal.
The Uchi-mata remains one of
Kentoku’s execution gave him the victory and created one of the most memorable highlights of the opening day.
The medals were awarded by IOC Member Petra Sörling.
For Kentoku, this victory may represent the beginning of a much larger international story.
Eteri Liparteliani Returns to the Top at -57kg
The
Current world champion Eteri Liparteliani of Georgia faced France’s Sarah Léonie Cysique in a contest filled with technical quality and international significance.
Both athletes understand the pressure of competing at the highest level.
Liparteliani entered the final carrying the status of world champion, while Cysique brought her own experience and reputation as one of France’s strongest international competitors.
The Georgian star ultimately found her moment.
Using a signature hip throw, Liparteliani demonstrated the technical confidence that has made her one of the leading judoka in the world.
The throw brought her back to the top of the podium and reinforced her position as a dominant force in the division.
Her gold medal was awarded by multiple Olympic judo medallist Klaus Glahn.
For Liparteliani, the victory was another reminder that becoming world champion is difficult, but remaining among the world’s elite requires constant evolution.
The First Day Was About More Than Gold Medals
The five gold medallists naturally dominated the sporting headlines, but the opening day in Lausanne carried a broader message.
Modern international sport is increasingly judged not only by who wins, but also by how events represent athletes, communities and future generations.
Lausanne offered several important elements in one day.
Olympic legends celebrated the
Young athletes met senior figures during a local masterclass.
Adaptive judoka competed alongside elite World Tour athletes.
And the
That combination gave the tournament a unique identity.
The competition did not abandon tradition in order to embrace inclusion. Instead, it showed that both can strengthen each other.
Judo’s history remains important.
Its future may depend on how successfully the sport continues opening its doors.
A Growing Stage for International Judo
The arrival of the IJF World Tour in Lausanne also highlights the continued expansion of judo’s international presence.
Major tournaments are no longer simply isolated sporting competitions. They are global events watched by fans, athletes, coaches and national federations from around the world.
Every Grand Slam can influence world rankings.
Every major victory can change an
Every performance can affect future selections for world championships and Olympic competitions.
This makes the pressure inside the Vaudoise Arena significantly greater than what a casual spectator might initially see.
Behind every throw are years of training.
Behind every medal are countless injuries, sacrifices and competitions.
And behind every athlete is often an entire national team searching for international success.
Lausanne’s opening day provided a reminder of just how competitive modern judo has become.
What Undercode Say:
The Lausanne Grand
The first direction is elite performance.
Athletes such as Fukuda, Kentoku and Liparteliani demonstrated that the technical level of international judo continues to rise.
The second direction is inclusion.
Adaptive judo appearing alongside World Tour competition sends a stronger message than a separate exhibition ever could.
Visibility matters in sport.
When athletes compete on the same stage, audiences begin to see them as part of the same sporting community.
That can change public perception.
It can also influence future investment.
Federations may begin developing stronger adaptive programs when major events provide international exposure.
From a competitive perspective, the opening day also demonstrated the continuing importance of technical diversity.
Vorobeva won through groundwork and submission.
Fukuda delivered a devastating counter.
Kentoku used one of
Liparteliani relied on a powerful hip throw.
Primo succeeded through tactical activity and pressure.
This diversity is important.
Modern judo cannot be reduced to one fighting style.
Athletes who depend on a single strategy can become predictable.
The strongest competitors are increasingly those capable of changing their approach during a contest.
Lausanne also highlighted the depth of Japanese judo.
Fukuda and Kentoku both captured major titles.
The all-Japan final at -66kg showed how competitive Japan’s internal talent pool remains.
However, the wider international picture is equally important.
Georgia, Israel and other nations continue producing athletes capable of challenging traditional powers.
That global balance makes judo more competitive.
It also makes tournaments more unpredictable.
The rise of multiple national programs means that medals are no longer concentrated in only a small group of countries.
From an organizational perspective, Lausanne has another advantage.
The
Judo is not competing in an ordinary location.
It is competing in one of the
The presence of Olympic figures reinforces that connection.
For Undercode, the biggest story is therefore not only who won gold.
The biggest story is what the event represents.
Judo is trying to protect its traditions while modernizing its presentation.
It is expanding its audience without abandoning technical authenticity.
It is promoting elite competition while giving adaptive athletes greater visibility.
If this model continues, future international tournaments could become more inclusive without losing their competitive intensity.
That would be a significant achievement.
The strongest sporting events are not simply those that produce champions.
They are the events that leave the sport stronger after the final medal ceremony.
Lausanne’s first day appears to have taken a step in that direction.
✅ The article reports that Marina Vorobeva, Yamato Fukuda, Gefen Primo, Kairi Kentoku and Eteri Liparteliani won gold medals during the opening day of the Lausanne Grand Slam.
✅ The opening event featured adaptive judo athletes competing alongside elite World Tour judoka, making inclusion a central part of the tournament’s presentation.
❌ The available information does not establish that Lausanne’s event will permanently change the format of every future IJF tournament, although it may influence future approaches to inclusion.
Prediction
(+1) The successful integration of adaptive judo into the Lausanne Grand Slam experience could encourage more major international judo events to provide greater visibility and opportunities for adaptive athletes.
Fukuda and Kentoku’s breakthrough victories could strengthen their positions as important names to watch on the international circuit.
Liparteliani’s continued success suggests she will remain one of the strongest competitors in the women’s -57kg division.
Lausanne could establish itself as an increasingly important destination on the IJF World Tour if the tournament continues delivering strong competition and international attention.
The growing depth of global judo means that maintaining dominance will become increasingly difficult, even for established champions.
Deep Analysis
Elite judo increasingly depends on detailed performance analysis, video review and tactical preparation.
Coaches and analysts can use structured workflows to organize competition footage and identify patterns in opponents.
A simple Linux-based workflow might begin by collecting and cataloguing match footage:
mkdir -p judo_analysis/{videos,reports,data}
Match files can then be organized by athlete or weight category:
find ./videos -type f | sort > data/match_inventory.txt
Video metadata can be examined using:
ffprobe -hide_banner match.mp4
Analysts can extract important timestamps from competition footage:
grep -n "Uchi-mata|Ura-nage|submission" data/match_notes.txt
A basic CSV database can also be created to track techniques and results:
echo "Athlete,Category,Technique,Result" > data/judo_results.csv
For example:
echo "Kairi Kentoku,-66kg,Uchi-mata,Gold" >> data/judo_results.csv
Performance statistics can then be reviewed using command-line tools:
awk -F',' '{print $3}' data/judo_results.csv | sort | uniq -c
This type of analysis can help identify which techniques are producing the highest number of decisive actions.
Video-based preparation could also allow teams to study gripping patterns, defensive reactions and transition opportunities.
In Vorobeva’s case, analysts might focus on how standing exchanges develop into groundwork.
For Fukuda, the critical question would be how opponents create openings that allow a powerful counter such as Ura-nage.
For Kentoku, analysts could examine entry timing and movement patterns before the Uchi-mata.
For Liparteliani, hip positioning and grip control would become important areas of technical study.
The future of elite judo will increasingly combine traditional coaching knowledge with modern performance analysis.
Technology will not replace the instinct of a great judoka.
But it can help athletes understand patterns that are difficult to recognize during the intensity of live competition.
Lausanne’s opening day showed the beauty of spontaneous judo.
Deep analysis shows the preparation that makes those spontaneous moments possible.
The Middleweights Prepare to Take the Stage
With the first day completed, attention now turns toward the middleweight divisions and another group of major international stars.
The opening session has already delivered spectacular throws, breakthrough victories, world-class tactical battles and a historic message of inclusion.
The pressure will now move to the next group of competitors.
New champions may emerge.
Established stars may defend their reputations.
And more unforgettable moments may be waiting inside the Vaudoise Arena.
Lausanne has officially entered the IJF World Tour story.
If the opening day is any indication, the tournament has started with exactly the kind of energy judo fans hope to see: respect for tradition, celebration of inclusion and fearless competition for gold.
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