Lukas Krpalek: Gold in the weight category +100 kg
Czech legend Lukas Krpalek made his first appearance on the IJF world tour this year, and could celebrate a gold medal, as he rose to the highest spot of the podium in the +100 kg category. It was the 6th Grand Prix gold medal for the double Olympic Champion Krpalek, who has hero status, not only in home country Czech Republic, but in the whole judo world. Krpalek has been part of team IPPONGEAR since day 1 and we are very proud to stand behind him, on his quest to win his third Olympic title.
Baruch Shmailov: Silver in the weight category -66 kg
We are happy to have welcomed Baruch Shmailov of Israel to team IPPONGEAR. The Israeli powerhouse, who is well known for his strong physique and explosive judo, had his IPPONGEAR debut in style this weekend and clinched a silver medal in the category -66 kg. Welcome to the team, Baruch!
Bogdan Iadov: Bronze in the weight category -66 kg
Shmailov could share the podium with another IPPONGEAR athlete, Bogdan Iadov of Ukraine, who managed to come away with a bronze medal, a result which bumped the Ukrainian athlete into the top 10 on the World ranking list.
Amber Gersjes: Bronze in the weight category -48 kg
Dutch lightweight Amber Gersjes could celebrate the second Grand Prix medal of her career, as she picked up a bronze medal in the -48 kg category, as well as valuable points for the Olympic ranking list.
Naomi van Krevel: Bronze in the weight category -52 kg
Gersjes’ Dutch teammate Naomi van Krevel, did as well capture her second Grand Prix medal, a bronze medal in the -52 kg category, as well as her first medal of the season.
Michaela Polleres: Bronze in the weight category -70 kg
Michaela Polleres of Austria made the crowd go wild, as she captured the first medal for the home nation, a bronze medal in the -70 kg category. Polleres is one of the most consistent athletes in her category and this weekend she added IJF World Tour medal number 12 to her collection.
Aleksandra Samardzic: Bronze in the weight category -70 kg
Aleksandra Samardzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina did as well pick up a bronze medal in the -70 kg category. Samardzic won her first Grand Prix medal at the age of just 19 and this weekend, 8 years later, she was able to pick up her second Grand Prix medal. A great result for the Bosnian athlete, showing that persistency pays off.
Jack Yonezuka: Bronze in the weight category -73 kg
Jack Yonezuka of The United States of America could celebrate his first ever medal at a Grand Prix, as he came away with a bronze medal in the -73 kg category. The Junior Vice World Champion captured a bronze medal at the Oceania Open in Perth back in November last year, and this weekend the young American made yet another a solid step into the senior category.
Laurin Böhler: Bronze in the weight category -100 kg
Austria’s Laurin Böhler made his comeback to the IJF World Tour by capturing a bronze medal in the category -100 kg, the second medal for home nation Austria. Böhler has been struggling with a long serie of injuries but has time after time made it back to the tatami. Böhler began the year by winning two back to back European Open gold medals and this weekend his established his comeback to the world stage by winning his first IJF World Tour medal in 5 years.
Yuliia Kurchenko: Silver in the weight category -78 kg
In the -78 kg category, the Ukrainian duo Yuliia Kurchenko and Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko both managed to come away with a medal.
The U23 European champion, Yuliia Kurchenko, made it to her second final on the IJF world tour this year and ended up with a silver medal.
Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko: Bronze in the weight category -78 kg
Kurchenko’s teammate Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko, was able to come away with a bronze medal, as well her second medal of the year.
The two young Ukrainians, despite both being just 20 years of age, are repeatedly showing that they mean business and continue to rise on the world ranking list in the -78 kg. category. Who of the pair will end up claiming the Olympic ticket?
Karla Prodan: Bronze in the weight category -78 kg
A third medal in the -78 kg category went to Karla Prodan of Croatia, who also picked up a bronze medal. Prodan is a former European medalist and already has a solid collection of medals from the IJF World Tour, but this medal surely meant something special to the Croatian athlete, who has been struggling with injury since the end of 2021, which has held her back from competition. Welcome back Karla!
Milica Zabic: Bronze in the weight category +78 kg
Serbian judoka Milica Zabic was also able to impress at this year's Grand Prix in Linz, winning a strong bronze medal in the 78 kg weight category.
What a weekend for team IPPONGEAR! We are proud to stand behind each of our athletes on their Olympic journey. We look forward to seeing our athletes in action again at the next event, the Grand Slam in Tbilisi, Georgia in two weeks.
