A couple of days after the passing away of former World Champion, Craig Fallon (GBR), and a week after the sudden death of young Kim Akker (NED), the judo community is mourning the passing away of Slovak former international referee Marian Hefka, aged 69 (SVK).

After he was an athlete in the former Czechoslovakia, Marian Hefka became a well known and recognized international referee. Thus he was present on the occasion of several European Championships and of the 1995 World Championships in Chiba, Japan. Marian was selected to be a referee at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Hefka was the President of the Slovak Judo Federation for 13 years and later became an active expert for the Czech Judo Federation. He was also a refereeing expert for the European Judo Union.

The International Judo Federation and the entire judo family present their deepest condolences to Marian Hefka's family and friends.

See also
News
IBSA Judo: Results From Day 1 in Giza

18. Aug. 2025 / Familiar names made their way into the final block ...

Athlete Stories
Kapil Parmar (IND): From the Fields to the Tatami

18. Aug. 2025 / Kapil Parmar is one of the current stars of IBSA judo. ...

News
IBSA Grand Prix Giza, Ready!

18. Aug. 2025 / Twenty-seven delegations from across the world have ...

Kata
Kata for All Festival Inspires Coaches and Children in Baku

18. Aug. 2025 / The National Judo Team Training Centre in Baku played ...

Referee Stories
Judit Pisarova: Respecting People and Opportunities

18. Aug. 2025 / Judit Pisarova is now a regular on the IJF World Judo ...

News
Record-breaking Haecker Bids Farewell to Competitive Judo

18. Aug. 2025 / Australia’s most successful judoka in decades, 3 ...

News
Team Event Caps a Memorable Week in Asuncion

16. Aug. 2025 / The 4th and final day of the II Junior Pan-American ...

News
Record-Breaking 2025 IJF Youth Camp in Fiesch

12. Aug. 2025 / The 2025 edition of the IJF Youth Camp, also known ...

Climate Action
Driving Sustainability in Judo

12. Aug. 2025 / The International Judo Federation (IJF) has released ...

News
Asuncion Paves the Road Ahead

11. Aug. 2025 / There is an energy across the city of Asuncion right ...

News
Asuncion Set to Host the II Junior Pan-American Games 2025

08. Aug. 2025 / The 2nd edition of the Junior Pan-American Games is ...

News
How Judo’s Gentle Way is Empowering Communities and Frontline Professionals

05. Aug. 2025 / Imagine facing a tense situation, a heated exchange ...

Oceania
Judo at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games: Growth, Spirit and Regional Momentum

01. Aug. 2025 / The 25th Pacific Mini Games, held from 29th June to ...

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 ...