Even before the launch of the Paris Tournament in the 70's, which became the legendary Paris Grand Slam, Georgia hosted a tournament that attracted athletes from around the world. Things aren't much different today. Of course, the Tbilisi Grand Slam has become more professional and for several years now it has hosted the crème de la crème of world judo, but this popular enthusiasm is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to judo's popularity in the country.
On the first day of competition, Georgian women were in the spotlight. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes in recent years, along with the growth of women's judo globally. The figurehead of this change is Eteri Liparteliani. Winner here last year, she once again won the tournament, her tournament, in front of her home crowd, who were in a frenzy, as the final was so incredible. Along with Liparteliani on the podium, there was also another Georgian judoka, Nino Loladze, as if further proof was needed that judo is now for everyone in Georgia, enough to inspire vocations!
At the end of the day, Eteri Liparteliani declared, “Of course, I was feeling the support from the crowd. I would like to thank my supporters; without their support, maybe I would have given up. They gave me huge motivation.” It's clear that having a knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience motivates and allows people to excel.
Among the current great champions, we can mention Ilia Sulamanidze and Lasha Bekauri, who were interviewed yesterday for JudoTv.com (soon to be released). The former was Olympic runner-up last year in Paris, while the latter won his second Olympic title in the French capital. Sulamanidze will be on the mat on the third day of competition, while Bekauri will be in the stands. Missing the event was out of the question for either of them.
But what makes Georgia a land of judo? This is undoubtedly the question everyone has been asking themselves over the years, given the impressive number of champions. For Ilia Sulamanidze, it all seems to lie in the simplicity of a life dedicated to the sport, "I get up at the same time every day, I follow a training routine that is unchanging and based on a method that is unique to us." We won't learn more.
For Bekauri, it's all about the ambition to reach higher and stronger than anyone else, "I want to be a four-time Olympic champion. I'm halfway there. In Tokyo, I was injured but I made it. In Paris, everyone was waiting for me and I made it there too. Now my goal is LA 2028." Ambition and the desire to succeed are two other characteristics of Georgian judo.
Meeting the heroes of Georgian judo, one understands, at least in part, the alchemy at work here. Passion, a big heart, the desire to fight within the sporting rules of judo, simplicity and ambition are some of the ingredients in the recipe for success in the country. The story continues to be written.