Fiesch Sends 500 Young Judoka Home With More Than Training Miles

The 2026 International Judo Federation Youth Camp in Fiesch has wrapped up, closing a week that put youth Judo at the centre of the action. More than 500 young judoka from 40 countries left Switzerland with hard training behind them and a deeper connection to the sport ahead of them.

Backed by the International Judo Federation and Olympic Solidarity, the camp again showed why it holds such a strong place in youth development. With the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 getting closer, the week gave participants a real taste of high-performance preparation while staying rooted in the educational values that define Judo.

A major part of that experience came from the people leading the sessions. Haruka Funakubo, world championships silver medallist and Olympic bronze medallist, joined Olympic bronze medallist and European champion Sergei Aschwanden, Olympic champion Udo Quellmalz and world championships medallist Orkhan Safarov, along with other respected athletes and coaches, to guide the next generation on the tatami.

Every day brought a different challenge. Technical precision, tactical awareness, intense randori and shared experience all came together, giving the athletes exposure to a wide range of styles and coaching methods. With so many countries represented in one place, the camp became more than a training block. It was a chance to see how Judo can look and feel different across the world while still speaking the same language.

In Fiesch, learning happened far beyond the tatami.

The programme also extended into the mountains around the camp. Participants visited the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe, and the trip carried a wider message about environmental protection. That moment connected the sporting side of the week with the International Judo Federation's long-standing commitment to sustainability and awareness for younger generations.

As the final day arrived, the emotional tone naturally shifted. Last randori sessions felt heavier with meaning, final practices turned into one more opportunity to absorb something new and each farewell underlined how quickly strong bonds can form through Judo.

The camp's impact was built by more than its headline names. Coaches, organisers, volunteers and partners all played their part in creating an atmosphere where young athletes could test themselves, grow in confidence and experience the international spirit of the sport in a direct and personal way.

Sergei Aschwanden, the camp founder, has long described the project as something bigger than a normal training camp, and this edition gave that idea real weight. In Fiesch, different styles and different national backgrounds shared the same tatami, and that mix once again became one of the event's biggest strengths.

For Switzerland, the momentum in Judo will continue soon with the inaugural Lausanne Grand Slam at the end of August. Before that, many of the young athletes who trained together in Fiesch are expected to cross paths again at the Guayaquil World Championships Cadets 2026 in Ecuador, where the lessons and friendships from this camp will be tested in competition.

The road from Fiesch now leads toward Dakar and Ecuador.

The next edition of the IJF Youth Camp is already set for 18 to 24 July 2027. For everyone who took part this year, the message seems clear: the week in Switzerland was not only about getting better, but about belonging to something bigger in Judo.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation