Heidelberg is no stranger to Para judo. The German city hosted an IBSA judo grand prix in February 2024, at a time when athletes were approaching the final stages of qualification for Paris 2024. Two years later, the situation is reversed. Paris is now part of history and a new Paralympic cycle has begun. The road ahead is still long but LA28 is already on everyone’s mind.
The choice of Heidelberg is therefore particularly appropriate. The city has established itself as an important centre for Para judo in Germany and is home to the country's first federal performance centre dedicated to the discipline. This weekend will mark another milestone as Germany hosts the IBSA Judo European Championships for the first time.
The SNP Dome, opened in 2021, capable of welcoming more than 4,000 spectators, will provide the stage for three days of competition. 120 judoka from 22 European nations will be taking part, competing separately in the J1 and J2 classifications and across their respective weight categories.
For those more familiar with the World Judo Tour, Para judo retains everything that makes judo so compelling: gripping battles, tactical choices, explosive attacks and the constant possibility that a contest can be decided in an instant. The fundamental difference lies in the classification system. J1 is for athletes who are blind or have a very severe visual impairment, while J2 encompasses athletes who have a higher degree of vision but remain eligible under Para judo classification rules. The two classes compete separately.
There will be plenty of familiar names on the tatami in Heidelberg but beyond individual names and medals, Heidelberg represents another step in a much longer journey. Para judo has entered a new phase. The excitement and emotion of Paris 2024 have given way to new objectives, new athletes and new rivalries. Some of those who stood on the Paralympic podium two years ago remain among the athletes to beat; others are now being challenged by judoka whose ambitions extend all the way to California.
There is still plenty of time before Los Angeles 2028 and much can change between now and then. Yet the qualification race has begun and every competition offers another opportunity to score points, gain experience and establish a place among the world's best.
For Europe's leading Para judoka, that opportunity begins today in Heidelberg.