The Judo Veterans World Championships took place over five days in Paris, bringing together seasoned judokas from around the globe. Participants were warmly welcomed by Stéphane Nomis, President of the French Judo Federation.
“Hello to everyone, dear friends, dear judokas. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Marius Vizer, the IJF President, for entrusting us with the World Championships. Let’s give him a round of applause!” Nomis told the crowd during the opening ceremony.
A total of 2,316 veteran judokas from 64 countries competed across 111 male and female categories, an impressive turnout that highlights both the growing global enthusiasm for veteran judo and the IJF’s long-term commitment to supporting athletes who continue to contribute to the sport as mentors and coaches.
Last year’s Judo Veterans World Championships were held in Las Vegas, USA. In a message printed in the official event brochure, IJF President Marius Vizer thanked the French hosts of the 2025 edition, noting that “our judo family greatly enjoyed last year’s event in Las Vegas. This year, thanks to the dedication of the French organizing team and the collaboration of the IJF Veterans Commission, the championships have returned to Europe, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude.”
Among the 64 participating nations, Angola was one of the African representatives, fielding 14 veteran judokas. From the Americas, Brazil led the way with 117 competitors, followed by the United States with 45, Argentina with 24, and Canada with 20 participants. European and Asian teams were also strongly represented, with a significant number of veteran athletes taking part in the championships.
In the medal standings, Brazil made history by claiming 12 gold medals to top the table. Host nation France secured eight golds and an impressive 15 silvers to finish second, while Georgia matched France’s gold tally and added four silvers and nine bronzes to take third place. Germany, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Italy, Portugal, and Spain followed in fourth to ninth positions. The IJF Veterans Team rounded out the top ten with two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.
