After the World Judo Championships - Doha 2023, which crowned 14 new world champions, the Upper Austria Grand Prix will give the opportunity to many athletes to gain more points or to erase a counter-performance at the worlds.
If Teddy Riner, now 11 time-world-champion was initially announced, he will not be in Linz, as the living legend of the sport deserves to rest a bit before getting ready for an incredible challenge to become Olympic champion for the third time, in Paris next year. Nevertheless, the entry list shows that the level will be very high again.
Among the competitors that we will be happy to follow are double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek (CZE), recently a runner-up in Doha, the French mixed team Olympic champion and former world champion Madeleine Malonga, Axel Clerget (FRA), the youngest world champion ever Daria Bilodid (UKR), former world champion Anna-Maria Wagner (GER), another runner-up in Doha Giovanna Scoccimarro (GER), world number 1 Dennis Vieru (MDA) and, of course, the top local aces such as world championship bronze medallist Michaela Polleres (AUT), world championship fifth placed Lubjana Piovesana (AUT), the successful brothers Shamil and Wachid Borchashvili (AUT) and high-flyer Aaron Fara (AUT).
Logically, the host nation has the largest delegation with 42 athletes, followed by neighbouring Germany (23), Great Britain (20), Italy (19), Spain (18) and then Brazil, France and Ukraine (17 each).
On Sunday, the first officials and teams landed in Linz and on Wednesday at 2pm the draw will take place. Then on Thursday the first judoka will already be in action, including 4-time Olympian Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT), who is giving her final farewell to the ÖJV national team.
The comeback of a World Judo Tour event in Austria, a country of judo, is symbolically important and has been promoted well in the region. Just before the departure of the Austrian team to Doha for the 2023 World Championships a few weeks ago, they gathered at the Lentos Art Museum on the Danube riverbank, for a photo shoot. Involved were Magda Krssakova, Michaela Polleres, Shamil and Wachid Borchashvili, Aaron Fara and sparring partner Samuel Gaßner. Shamil, Wachid and Samuel are Upper-Austrians, the brothers living in Wels and Samuel living in the Mühlviertel area, about an hour from Linz.
Over the weekend the art will take place in the TipsArena. Be ready to follow the action at https://judotv.com/