Russian Timur Arbuzov achieved another gold medal in his rising career after being crowned champion of the European Judo Championships held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in the weight category up to 81 kilograms.
In a thrilling final match held on Saturday, Arbuzov achieved a historic victory over veteran Georgian star Tato Grigalashvili, a three-time world and European champion, to secure the gold medal.
Arbuzov is only 22 years old, but he already has an impressive record of achievements, having won the gold medal at the World Championships in Budapest and the gold medal at the European Championships in Podgorica during 2025, before crowning his career by winning the "Sportsman of the Year" award from the International Judo Federation in February 2026.
The Tbilisi tournament witnessed a distinguished participation of Russian athletes, as the International Judo Federation allowed Russian athletes to compete under their country’s flag and national anthem, following the decision of the Federation’s Executive Committee on November 27, 2025, to restore the right of Russian athletes to participate in international tournaments with full national symbols.
The 2026 European Judo Championships are scheduled to conclude on Sunday.
