The individual competition at the European Cadet Judo Championships in Gran Canaria, Spain, has concluded. This year's event brought together 43 countries and 425 young judoka. Slovenia finished at the top of the medal table with three gold and one silver medal, while Azerbaijan placed second with two gold, three silver and five bronze medals. Bulgaria, however, was one of the most interesting stories of the competition.
Bulgaria finished third with two gold and two bronze medals. In a European cadet field filled with traditional judo nations, that is not a small result. The cadet age group is often where future junior and senior athletes first appear on the international stage. When a country wins two European titles at this level, it suggests that its youth programme has athletes worth following.
European cadet judo remains highly competitive. This year, 11 countries won at least one gold medal and 21 countries reached the podium. Bulgaria's third-place finish does not mean it will immediately become a senior powerhouse, but it does show that new names are emerging in European judo.
Source: International Judo Federation competition data
European Judo Union individual-event review