A shower of medals for East Tyrolean judokas in Innsbruck
Nine championship titles, 14 silver and seven bronze medals are the proud results.
Last Sunday, October 17th, the Judo Union Osttirol traveled with 28 judoka to the Tyrolean championships in Innsbruck. A total of 213 athletes from all ten Tyrolean clubs dueled in the Leitgebhalle in the age groups U12, U14, U16, U18, U21 and in the general class.
Already after the first fights it became clear that the East Tyrolean judoka had made optimal use of the long break in competition during the pandemic: With nine championship titles, 14 runner-up titles and seven bronze medals, the East Tyrolean delegation was convincing across the board – and that was convincing, although some fixed starters due to work and injury Missed competition in the state capital.
There Anna Reiterer, Timo Kurnik and Leo Gradnig dared to step on the mat for the first time in a judo competition with the children and Elias Schneeberger with the adults. Seasoned judokas like the three-time Masters European champion Elisabeth Waldner-Wenzel, Sabrina Hofmann (Austrian champion) and Michael Wolsegger are back on the tatami after a long break from competition. Judo chairman Leonhard Unterrainer also tackled the individual and team competitions.
Sarah-Marie Wibmer confidently secured the championship title in the U16 age group and the U18 women. They like to prepare big throws piece by piece and use every chance of an early victory ice cold. Gabriel Bretschneider was also named two-time Tyrolean champion (age group U21 and general class). Always motivated, always on the opponent, always ready for the big hit – Bretschneider played his strengths skillfully and rewarded himself with a sensational victory against the German Bundesliga fighter Friedemann Schneider.
Manuel Wiesler showed judo at its best and won gold with the men in the -66 kg weight class. Sabrina Hofmann, who won the Austrian U21 championship title for women in East Tyrol at her last major judo appearance in 2019, rewarded another strong performance with gold. The flagship of East Tyrolean judo, Elisabeth Waldner-Wenzel, also won the title with remarkable Ippon techniques while standing and on the ground. Sergey Sharon and Andreas Libiseller won their respective junior competitions.
Silver went to Jakob Unterrainer-Rautter (3), Matthias Unterrainer-Rautter (2), Sarah Marie Wibmer (2), Natalie Popeller, Leo Riepler, Benjamin Payer, Leonie Ganzer, Rainer Preßlaber, Victoria Brugger and Magdalena Goller. Victoria Brugger (2), Phillip Kellner, Matthias Obrist, Pascal Stadler, Rainer Preßlaber and Matthias Unterrainer-Rautter rewarded their achievements with bronze medals. In the club ranking, the East Tyrolean judoka landed in second place behind the Innsbruck judo center.