The Mixed Zone. Some athletes love it, some profoundly hate it.

It can be so quiet in there. Especially when you arrive early at the venue. Like really early. A couple of hours before the competition starts or in those late hours when the dust has settled down after another day of rushing heartbeats and peaking emotions.

Towards the end of the competition day the Mixed Zone transforms into a hectic place where suddenly lights are turned on, cameras zoom in and photographers’ flashes are blitzing and blinking, blinding the interviewee. Because that’s what it’s all about. Reporters and camera crews want to crawl inside the athlete’s mind to steal his or her thoughts hardly few moments after he or she has won that medal … or lost it.

This is the place were first reactions are gathered, emotions are shown, tears are shed … of joy … or disappointment. It’s heaven for the victor, it’s hell for the defeated. It’s the place where every reporter must be!

See also
Climate Action
Commitment, Action and Responsibility

18. Dec. 2025 / The International Judo Federation has published its ...

News
MET Group Extends Partnership with Nils Stump Until LA 2028

18. Dec. 2025 / Swiss-based energy company MET Group has announced ...

IBSA Sao Paolo
The Second Day in Sao Paolo

17. Dec. 2025 / The Brazilian organisers and judoka can all be proud ...

IBSA Sao Paolo
The Togetherness of Opposition

17. Dec. 2025 / Judo is a strange beast, an addictive sport that binds ...

IJF Judo Awards
IJF Judo Awards 2025: Celebrate Spirit, Shape the Future

17. Dec. 2025 / Every year, the International Judo Federation invites ...

Judo for Peace
From Dialogue to the Tatami

17. Dec. 2025 / For three days, Geneva hosted representatives from ...

IBSA Sao Paolo
The First Day in Sao Paolo

16. Dec. 2025 / The first seven categories of the 2025 IBSA Grand Prix ...

News
The Kodokan Hosts a Meeting of Champions

16. Dec. 2025 / During the official post-Tokyo Grand Slam training ...

IBSA Sao Paolo
Sao Paolo is Ready for the Last IBSA Judo Event of 2025

16. Dec. 2025 / On Monday 15th December, the official draw took place ...

Judo for Peace
IJF Signs Sport for Refugees Coalition Joint Statement

14. Dec. 2025 / The IJF is proud to be a signatory to the Sport for ...

Judo Education
Judo Teachers Gather in Bulgaria for Olympic Solidarity Training

08. Dec. 2025 / While the world’s top judoka were battling for glory ...

Inclusion
A Shared Vision of Inclusion

08. Dec. 2025 / During the Adapted Judo Workshop in Houlgate on 4th ...

Tokyo GS 2025
Thank You Tokyo!

07. Dec. 2025 / The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium has been filled with ...

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 ...