Poland’s Cadet Team Heads to Bielsko-Biała with Growing Confidence

Bielsko-Biała is about to become one of the biggest stages in European cadet judo again. Between 16 and 17 May, 790 judoka from 36 nations are set to compete in an event that has become much more than a regular stop on the calendar.

For many young athletes, this European Cup is where pressure, ambition and possibility all meet at once. It is also arriving at a key point in the season, with the cadet European and World Championships in 2026 getting closer.

For Poland, the tournament carries extra weight. The host nation is not only welcoming one of the strongest cadet events in Europe this season, but also measuring the progress of a generation that has been building real momentum in recent years.

Polish Cadet National Team Coach Tomasz Jopek sees a group shaped by determination and by the example of those who came before them. He pointed to the impact of older teammates whose success at cadet level helped inspire the current athletes, giving them the confidence to face top international opponents without hesitation.

Since the cadet World Championships in Zagreb in 2023, Polish athletes have regularly reached the podium at cadet European and World Championships, both in individual categories and team events. For Jopek, that consistency is no accident. He highlighted the athletes’ drive to reach their goals, along with the support they receive from club coaches and the national team staff.

Bielsko-Biała is not just a tournament stop, it is a serious test of where athletes stand.

Jopek also made it clear that this competition matters even for athletes who have already qualified for the season’s biggest championships. In his view, every tournament writes its own story, and Bielsko-Biała will offer a clearer picture of the team’s current level before the final training blocks in Wałcz and Zakopane.

His message was simple but powerful: optimism matters. He said belief is essential in sport, and that he believes strongly in his athletes.

That confidence is shared higher up in the Polish system. Przemysław Matyjaszek, Youth Groups Coordinator for the Polish Judo Association and a fifth-place finisher at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, described the current youth level in Poland as full of potential. He connected that rise to the increasing number of children and teenagers practicing judo across the country, saying the scale of participation is now beginning to show its value.

He also pointed to the structure around the athletes. According to Matyjaszek, one major reason for recent success has been the creation of a strong coaching team led by Jopek and supported by specialists in judo and physical preparation, as well as experienced figures from Polish judo.

Names already mentioned as part of this promising generation include Zuzanna Banaszewska and Szymon Szulik, both cadet European Championship medallists. Jopek also named Jakub Kurowski, Amelia Ptasińska, Jakub Muniz Acosta and Sandra Walendzik as athletes who, with the right guidance, could help form the future backbone of the Polish national team.

Hard work, trust and team atmosphere remain central to Poland’s rise.

There is still caution in the Polish camp. Neither Jopek nor Matyjaszek tried to promise medals before the event. But both spoke with clear belief that this group can continue the strong results seen in recent seasons.

With nearly 800 competitors ready to step onto the tatami, Bielsko-Biała now feels like more than a host city. For Poland’s cadets, it is another chance to show that their rise is real.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union