Graz Raises the Bar as Junior European Cup Sets a New Judo Mark

The 2026 Junior European Cup in Graz has already secured its place in judo history. On Saturday morning, 30 May, it became official that the event at Raiffeisensportpark Graz had reached a record no junior tournament in Europe or worldwide had managed before.

A total of 617 young judoka from 34 nations entered the competition, making this the biggest junior event of its kind on record. That number moved Graz past the recent mark from Lignano in April, where 595 athletes from 27 nations competed, and also beyond Berlin’s long-standing all-time high of 612 competitors from 31 countries, a benchmark that had stood since 2008.

For Austria, the weekend carries extra weight. The previous national record had belonged to Leibnitz in 2014, when 596 competitors from 31 nations took part. Now that figure has been overtaken too, adding another layer to what is already a standout moment for Austrian judo.

Graz didn’t just host a big event, it hosted a new junior judo record.

Judo Austria highlighted both the scale of the competition and the response to the event itself. Secretary General Corina Korner and President Martin Poiger pointed to Austria’s growing profile on the international scene, noting strong participation figures in Mittersill training camps and at the Upper Austria Grand Prix in Linz in 2025. In Graz, they said, the Junior European Cup delivered not only in numbers but also in organisation.

That matters because record-breaking size can easily become difficult to manage. Instead, the feedback mentioned in the source was described as excellent, with the tournament praised for flawless organisation. For a junior event, where many athletes are still building their first major international experiences, that kind of environment can leave a lasting impact.

The officiating team also reflects the scale of the weekend. According to the source, 28 referees from 14 nations are present in Graz, a figure that could set another benchmark. Among them is Italy’s Roberta Chyurlia, identified as a multiple Olympic referee.

Austria’s referee presence is also visible through Paul Perchtold of Vienna, Roland Poiger of Burgenland and David Pühringer of Upper Austria. Their involvement underlines how strongly the host nation is represented, not only on the organisational side but also in the work that keeps a competition of this size running smoothly.

Austria’s junior judo weekend is now part of the record books.

What stands out most is the bigger picture. Junior judo continues to grow, and Graz has become the latest proof of that momentum. With 617 athletes from 34 nations on the tatami, this is more than a statistical milestone. It is a sign of how deep and wide the next generation of judo is becoming.

For European judo, and especially for Austria, the achievement is a strong one. Graz did not simply welcome a large crowd of competitors. It hosted a tournament that set a new standard.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union