The final consisted of physically demanding exchanges and the highest level of tactical mastery, each judoka neutralising the other. Going into the last minute of the fight there were two penalties apiece and the distinct feeling that either could hunt down a score at any moment. Eventually, with ten seconds of the contest left, it was Schimidt who set up an outstanding de-ashi-harai. He dragged Tselidis’ front foot out from under him and registered a waza-ari. Schimidt has a new gold medal to add to his collection!

After the final Schimidt said, “I am very happy today, bouncing back from a disappointing world championship to win my first grand prix gold medal in Zagreb, the place where I won my first World Judo Tour medal, in 2021 and twice finished. The semi-final and final were tough fights; I came back from a waza-ari down in my semi-final before defeating an Olympic medalist in the final, a victory I dedicate to my late first coach who always told me to fight with heart. This marks my sixth consecutive Tour medal this season, showing that the Brazilian team is turning things around after a tough worlds.”

The other two top seeds, Rafael Macedo (BRA) and Kenny Komi Bedel (ITA) also made their way to the quarter-finals, each writing a different result into the archive.

Kenny Komi Bedel flew past Sivan (ISR), Nerpel (HUN) and Moorhead (GBR) on his way to a semi-final against Schimidt. Having lost that contest he dropped into a bronze medal contest. Noah Christiaens (BEL) was waiting for him.

The Italian and Belgian competitors authored an extremely close contest, one which yielded just a single shido in normal time. Both attacked, both defended, both gripped excellently. Thirty seconds into golden score, Christiaens attacked but Bedel had an answer, a good one. He countered with ko-soto-gari to score a yuko and take the medal.

Macedo struggled against Georgia’s Luka Javakhishvili in their quarter-final, thrown for a yuko and then ippon. The 20-year-old moved into a semi-final against Tselidis, dropping into a bronze medal fight against Canada’s Keagan Young. Canada has enjoyed numerous medal contests in Zagreb and another was now on the billing.

Twenty-five-year-old Keagan Young came close to an Olympic selection in 2024, missing out narrowly. He seems to be back stronger, more technical, ready! Against Javakhishvili he countered for a yuko first and then just inside the third minute he countered again, this time for ippon. It was a huge o-uchi-gaeshi, one that earned him his first World Judo Tour medal.