Martti Puumalainen is at the absolute top of the sport.
Jaakko Dahlbacka was watching the broadcast of the EC judo final at home.
He says he already saw it Martti Puumalainen something special from the entrance.
– He looked as if the sleeves were to be torn off the suit. The expression was grim and determined, but not at all angry. It was visible throughout the match, IL’s martial arts expert says.
A Georgian man who has been stretched to the extension period Guram Tushishvili against ended with a huge Finnish party. Puumalainen was crowned European champion in the +100 kg category.
The EC judo medal was Finland’s first in 30 years – and it was golden in color.
– Judo is a really big sport in the world. The EC gold medal is absolutely crazy, Dahlbacka continues.
Thriller
Martti Puumalainen’s faith did not end even in the last seconds. Stock photo. EPA / AOP
The final turned out to be a thriller, and the victory certainly did not come in the easiest season.
The Georgian took a 1–0 lead in the match and was already on his way to the championship. There were seven seconds left in the three-minute match, when Puumalainen succeeded in waza-ari: Tushishvili was on his side on the tatami, and Puumalainen leveled the match.
– Getting an equalizing point in that section requires an incredible amount of self-confidence. With the last few seconds remaining, the opponent will do everything they can to defend their lead.
– When the Puumalainen succeeded, he definitely got a mental upper hand over the Georgian. For the opponent, losing the lead in the last moments is a failure.
The victory was decided in overtime, with the so-called golden point. After a good minute of twisting, the Finnish judo star got a tight grip on Tushishvili’s upper arm. The man from Puma took the lead, the Georgian toured along and was soon on his back: ippo and the European championship to Finland!
– It was well received from “Mara”, Dahlbacka enthuses.
This year, Puumalainen has won two huge victories, the European Championship gold and the victory in the Masters competition.
– When there are two giant successes in the same year, it shows that everything didn’t just fall into place on one day. Puumalainen has repeated his success under the toughest pressures.
Paris summer
Earlier this year, Puumalainen won the Masters tournament in Budapest. EPA / AOP
The EC gold further strengthens expectations for next summer.
Puumalainen is a realistic hope for a medal at the Paris Olympics. Puumalainen was ranked seventh in the International Judo Federation’s world list before the European Championships. Besides him, there are no other Europeans in the top 10.
He is third in the Olympic ranking.
– It’s a wild thing and gives a shy preview of what may be coming next summer.
The Finnish Judo Federation recently announced that the head coach Rok Draksic will continue until the summer games in Los Angeles in 2028.
– It can mean great things for even younger judokas. Valtteri Olin took his first international tournament win in adults at these European Championships. Younger people from Puma also show an increase in age.
at the European Championships held in Montpellier, France Luukas Saha finished seventh in the under-66-kilogram category, and also Pihla Matikainen like Olin, made it to the top 16.