When the Grand Slam Hungary draw ended the inevitable rumour machine was turned on. Three were the most recurrent questions: the competition schedules, the sanitary protocol and what Daria Bilodid was doing in the -52kg category.
Daria Bilodid

The Ukrainian is an attraction wherever she goes because she is a double world champion and dominates the -48kg category with little resistance. There was, of course, curiosity to see her again with a judogi. However, curiosity gave way to direct interest because she was registered in another category.

People began to speak, to speculate and to build theories of all kinds: it will be because she is bored at -48kg and wants a new challenge, it will be that she does not want to show her current level too soon, it will be a weight problem. Everything was said.

Bilodid competed and won the bronze medal. We went to see her to dispel the mystery.

Daria Bilodid

“It was a considered and consensual decision between me and my parents. With the pandemic, losing weight is risky, because the body is more vulnerable. That is why I have participated in a higher category. I do not want to fall ill, but I need to compete, like everyone else, to return to the circuit and do what I like."

It’s as simple as that. Just in case, we launch a probe for the future, but that is laid to rest too. “This has been an exception; in the European Championships I will participate at -48kg. As for the future, we'll see,” concludes Bilodid, who has explained the mystery of Budapest while unveiling a new one.

See also
Antalya GS 2024
Are Abe and Abe Able to Ascend in Antalya ?

28. Mar. 2024 / Among the 628 athletes accredited for the Antalya Grand ...

Antalya GS 2024
It’s Happening in Antalya!

28. Mar. 2024 / A week ago the World Judo Tour stopped in Tbilisi, ...

News
Rwanda's Judo Development Continues

27. Mar. 2024 / On Saturday 16th March the Rwanda Judo Federation orchestrated ...

News
MET Group, IJF Global Partner, Becomes Main Partner of Nils Stump

26. Mar. 2024 / Energy company MET Group has been promoting and supporting ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Lipo Says Goodbye and Georgia Celebrates its Champions

24. Mar. 2024 / During the second day of competition of the Tbilisi ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
+100kg: Tushishvili Signs for a Fifth Gold Medal in a Grand Slam

24. Mar. 2024 / The first known final of the day was that of the men's ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
+78kg: Lucht Surprises Everyone

24. Mar. 2024 / Two Olympic champions were in play in Tbilisi in the ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
-100kg: Sherazadishvili Find his Marks

24. Mar. 2024 / Things were difficult for the double world champion ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
-78kg: Kurchenko Closes the Gap

24. Mar. 2024 / This group is truly elite.

Tbilisi GS 2024
-90kg: Bekauri is Back!

24. Mar. 2024 / They came among other things for him and they were ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Fair-Play and Spectacular Judo, This Is What You Find in Georgia

24. Mar. 2024 / Georgian Judo and its many achievements and successes ...

Judo TV
Why Should You Watch JudoTV?

24. Mar. 2024 / If the dream of every judoka is to be physically present ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Georgia Celebrates its Hero

23. Mar. 2024 / The World Judo Tour competitions are celebrations of ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...