The 2025 judo season opened in Paris and closed in Tokyo, where the sport’s flagship Grand Slam brought an intense year of competition to an end. With the World Tour now complete, IJF President Marius Vizer and the world judo community are turning their attention to 2026.
Beyond the World Championships, the IJF staged Grand Prix events across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, along with Grand Slams in eight world capitals. Established world and Olympic stars continued to impress, while a new generation of ambitious athletes emerged. This suggests that judo at LA28 could showcase a fresh wave of rising talent.
Japan and France remain the most decorated nations in the history of the sport. Japan leads the all-time standings with 52 Olympic gold medals, 155 world titles, and 416 Grand Slam victories. France follows with 16 Olympic gold medals, 56 world titles, and 127 Grand Slam wins. Their level of dominance remains unmatched in international judo.
At present, Sanshiro Murao and Haruka Kaju of Japan lead the IJF men’s and women’s world rankings. However, the development strategy promoted by IJF President Marius Vizer seeks to nurture champions from every region. The organisation of Grand Prix events in Lima and Qingdao reflects this global approach to growth.
This year, the International Judo Federation organised five Grand Prix tournaments and introduced eight African Cups for juniors and seniors in Abidjan, Yaounde, Port Louis, Luanda, Pretoria, Algiers, Tunis, and Casablanca. These new events underline the IJF’s commitment to expanding both the reach and competitive depth of judo across the African continent.
Marius Vizer’s executive team in judo education is among the most distinguished in the sport. Under the leadership of Envic Galea, the IJF Academy has grown into an institution comparable to leading sports universities, supported by the academic expertise of Dr. Tibor Kozsla and Dr. Slavisa Bardic, as well as the guidance of Florin Lascau.
The Academy has played a key role in educational projects such as the JOY initiative with European partners. Its instructors and champion educators also deliver international judo workshops, a programme that has become a defining feature of Vizer’s administration. These initiatives will continue throughout 2026, reflecting the IJF’s commitment to shaping the future of judo worldwide.
The World Tour of judo will next arrive in the Olympic capital of Switzerland. The Lausanne Grand Slam, scheduled for August 2026, carries significance beyond competition, with a strong symbolic dimension. IJF policies promoting inclusion and combating discrimination closely reflect Olympic values.
IJF President Marius Vizer has repeatedly stressed that judo is a sport of peace and friendship, designed to bring people together. In this respect, judo’s presence alongside the IOC sends a clear message: the sport and the Olympic movement are inseparable
