Vote until: 10 Jan 2025
Live awards: 2 Feb 2025
Welcome to the IJF Judo Awards 2024!
Congratulations to all the nominees for their exceptional achievements in 2024!
Voting Process:
- Voting opens on 10th December and closes on 10th January.
- Each participant can cast one vote per category during the voting period.
- Votes are final once submitted and cannot be changed.
- Winners will be announced during the IJF Judo Awards 2024.
- The IJF Judo Awards Committee will select the final winners from the shortlist.
The winners will be announced during the live Judo Awards 2024 ceremony at the Paris Grand Slam 2025.
Thank you for celebrating excellence in Judo with us!
Judo for Children Project of the Year
6candidates
Top 3
Adaptive Judo for Children
Azerbaijan’s 'Adaptive Judo' empowers children with challenges, promoting respect, courage, and perseverance.
Top 3
Creation of 300 dojos for children in unprivileged neighbourhoods
France Judo created 300 dojos in underserved areas, offering judo, education, and cultural activities.
Top 3
JPN Olympic Champions vs Judo Kids at Grand Slam Tokyo 2024
Tokyo Grand Slam’s 'Heroes vs Legends' connected judo stars with children, inspiring future champions.
Judo in Schools - Promoting Gender Equality Through Sport
São Tomé and Príncipe’s 'Judo in Schools' promotes gender equality by training PE teachers in judo.
Judogirls.uz
Uzbekistan’s 'Judogirls.uz' promotes judo for girls, blending wellness, modern trends, and empowerment.
Mala Sola Juda
Slovenia’s 'Little School of Judo' fosters non-competitive judo in schools, engaging over 1,400 children.
Judo for Peace Project of the Year
5candidates
Top 3
Franz Kofler - The Road to Peace
A 6th dan judoka cycling across Europe to spread judo values and peace.
Top 3
Rwanda Builds a Peaceful Future Through Judo
A memorial judo tournament honouring victims and promoting unity.
Top 3
World Judo Day - Peace
Azerbaijan celebrated World Judo Day with nationwide events promoting peace.
Regional Judo for Peace Programme
A regional programme using judo to empower refugee communities across Southern Africa.
Julien Brulard - The Judo Nomad
A global traveller sharing judo values in more than 50 countries.
Moment of the Year
5candidates
Top 3
Mixed Team Olympic Final Paris 2024 - JPN vs FRA
The Paris 2024 mixed team final between Japan and France inspired with respect and resilience.
Top 3
Diyora Keldiyorova's shocking victory
Diyora Keldiyorova's shocking victory over Uta Abe at Paris 2024 showcased resilience and skill.
Top 3
Baasankhuu Bavuudorj's journey to Olympic medallist
Baasankhuu Bavuudorj's journey from a child to world champion and Olympic medallist inspires all.
'Heroes vs Legends' at Paris Grand Slam 2024
The 'Heroes vs Legends' match at Paris 2024 sparked inspiration, bringing judo closer to youth.
Roldeney Oliveira the first Olympic judo competitior from STP
Roldeney Oliveira made history as São Tomé and Príncipe's first-ever Olympic judo competitor.
Coaching Achievement of the Year
6candidates
Top 3
Richard TRAUTMANN (AZE)
Hidayat Heydarov and Zelym Kotsoiev made history by winning both world and Olympic titles in one year.
Top 3
Marko SPITTKA (UZB)
Coach Marko Spittka led Diyora Keldiyorova to Uzbekistan's first Olympic gold in judo.
Top 3
Baptiste LEROY (FRA)
Baptiste Leroy's leadership led the French men’s team to 10 Olympic medals at Paris 2024.
Vladimir PRERADOVIC (CRO)
Barbara Matic became Croatia's first Olympic medallist, after securing world and European titles.
Luka KURALT (SLO)
Luka Kurat coached Andreja Leški to Olympic gold and nurtured rising talents for Slovenia's future.
Antoine VALOIS-FORTIER (CAN)
Antoine Valois-Fortier, national coach for Christa Deguchi, led her to world titles and Paris 2024 Olympic gold.
Rising Star of the Year
6candidates
Top 3
Nihad MAMISHOV (AZE)
First Azerbaijani male two-time cadet world champion, excelling in different weight categories.
Top 3
Tara BABULFATH (SWE)
Sweden's first Olympic medallist in judo, with grand slam and European U23 golds.
Top 3
Joan-Benjamin GABA (FRA)
Olympic silver medallist, with a key victory against Hifumi Abe in the Olympic mixed team final.
Jonathan YANG (USA)
A rising star in judo, known for his agility, precision, and strategic approach to competition.
Riko HONDA (JPN)
A Japanese judoka with exceptional technique and a bright future in international competition.
Brenda OLAYA (COL)
A Colombian judoka recognised for her resilience, skill and dedication to her goals.
Female Judoka of the Year
7candidates
Top 3
Uta ABE (JPN)
Japanese -52kg star who became a five-time world champion with gold in Budapest 2025.
Top 3
Christa DEGUCHI (CAN)
Christa Deguchi, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist in 2024, ranks #1 globally across all divisions, for men and women.
Top 3
Beatriz SOUZA (BRA)
Beatriz Souza’s Olympic gold in 2024 demonstrated her powerful technique, making her a rising star in judo.
Assunta SCUTTO (ITA)
Italian -48kg judoka who completed her World medal set with gold in Budapest 2025.
Andreja LESKI (SLO)
Andreja Leski reached the peak of her career with Olympic gold in 2024, on top of numerous world and European medals.
Barbara MATIC (CRO)
Barbara Matic made history as a new Olympic champion in 2024, following her world and European championship titles.
Alice BELLANDI (ITA)
Alice Bellandi’s Olympic gold in 2024 marked the pinnacle of her judo career, showcasing brilliance and determination.
Male Judoka of the Year
7candidates
Top 3
Yeldos SMETOV (KAZ)
Yeldos Smetov won Olympic gold in 2024, adding to his 2015 world title and 2016 Olympic silver medal.
Top 3
Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE)
Hidayat Heydarov secured the triple crown in 2024 with the -73 kg European, world and Olympic titles in 2024, showcasing his incredible endurance and skill.
Top 3
Lasha BEKAURI (GEO)
Lasha Bekauri won his second Olympic gold in 2024, continuing his excellence in the -90 kg category.
Hifumi ABE (JPN)
Hifumi Abe, a four-time world champion, secured his second Olympic gold in 2024, dominating the -66 kg category.
Takanori NAGASE (JPN)
Takanori Nagase defended his Olympic title in 2024, reaffirming his dominance in the -81 kg weight class.
Zelym KOTSOIEV (AZE)
Zelym Kotsoiev’s 2024 Olympic victory marked a career milestone in the competitive -100 kg category.
Teddy RINER
Teddy Riner added another Olympic gold in 2024, solidifying his legacy as one of judo’s all-time greats.
Ippon of the Year
20candidates
Top 3
Matvey KANIKOVSKIY (IJF)
An unstoppable counter from Kanikovskiy on his way to Tokyo gold
Top 3
Teddy RINER (FRA)
An unforgettable way to win an olympic final
Top 3
Manuel LOMBARDO (ITA)
Seoi-nage, Italian style, from Lombardo
Mukhammad JUMAEV (UZB)
A beautiful change of direction from Jumaev in Dushanbe
Uta ABE (JPN)
Abe's power and timing in Antalya
Dominic RESSEL (GER)
A flying ashi-waza from the German in Paris
Daria KURBONMAMADOVA (IJF)
A superb spinning uchi-mata
Kanta NAKANO (JPN)
A sensational ashi-waza combination in Zagreb
Mireia LAPUERTA COMAS (ESP)
A huge ura-nage from Lapuerta Comas in Tbilisi
Zelim TCKAEV (AZE)
Minimum effort, maximum efficiency from Tckaev
David KARAPETYAN (IJF)
A classic example of utsuri-goshi at the Abu Dhabi Worlds
Natsumi TSUNODA (JPN)
Tsunoda produces her trademark tomoe-nage at the Paris Olympics
Enej MARINIC (SLO)
Stunning ashi-waza in the heavyweight division at the Baku Grand Slam
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
A breathtaking seoi-nage from Bayramov
Katharina HAECKER (AUS)
The fastest ippon from the Abu Dhabi World Championships
Galymzhan KRIKBAY (KAZ)
An expertly executed Tai-Otoshi at the Tbilisi Grand Slam
Dilbara SALKARBEK KIZI (SRB)
Ashi-waza off the sleeves from Salkarbek Kizi
Klen Kristofer KALJULAID (EST)
Perfectly timed ashi-waza in front of the Tokyo crowd
Patricia SAMPAIO (POR)
A ko-soto-gari out of nowhere from Sampaio
