Moldova carries a strong reputation into this year’s European U23 Championships. While the U23 age category is not recognised everywhere with a national championship, Europe has proudly hosted the continental U23 event since 2003. The next edition will take place in Chisinau, marking the first time Moldova will host a European-level championship.
Since its inception, the event has travelled across 17 countries, and Moldova has consistently proven itself as a breeding ground for young talent. Last year, Mihail Latisev captured gold in Pila, Poland, and at just 21 years old, he now has the chance to defend his title on home soil. Another Moldovan hope, Vadim Ghimbovschi, is also seen as a strong medal contender in Chisinau.
Moldova’s record at the European U23 Championships is impressive, with six titles to date. The country’s first came in 2005, when Marcel Trudov triumphed at -66kg. That same weight category has remained a source of strength, producing later champions Denis Vieru in 2016 and Radu Izvoreanu in 2023. Moldova’s middleweights have also enjoyed success, with Dorin Gotonoaga winning at -81kg in 2017 and Victor Sterpu claiming gold at -73kg in 2020.
Both Sterpu and Vieru went on to become European senior champions, underlining Moldova’s remarkable ability to develop athletes who transition smoothly from the U23 level to the world stage. Sterpu had already announced his talent a year earlier by winning the European junior title in 2019, marking a rapid rise through the ranks.
Another standout in recent years is Adil Osmanov, who, despite never capturing a U23 European title, made history by earning Moldova’s first-ever Olympic medal in judo. He took bronze at the 2024 Paris Games in the -73kg division, defeating Italy’s Manuel Lombardo. At the same Olympics, Denis Vieru secured bronze at -66kg, while Mihail Latisev reached the -81kg quarter-final before losing to eventual silver medallist Tato Grigalashvili.
With its growing list of international achievements and a new generation of talented judoka coming through, Moldova has become a genuine force to reckon with in European judo. Hosting the U23 European Championships for the first time offers the perfect stage to celebrate its progress — and perhaps to add another chapter to its rising legacy.