The Ecole Mont-Olivet Deaf Judo Masters Top 18 confirmed a depth and quality of deaf judo, bringing together medallists from several continents in the Vaudoise Arena. Kazakhstan emerged as the clear leading nation, claiming seven of the twelve available gold medals. Its athletes dominated the men’s middleweight categories through Gulama Khamze at -66 kg, Shadiyar Kuandyk at -73 kg, Yerkebulan Kanafin at -81 kg and Aidos Tugelbayev at -90 kg, while Feride Kara Ogly, Evelina Yegemberdiyeva and Anna Kramorova extended that success in the women’s competition.
The event nevertheless offered a genuinely international podium picture. Azerbaijan opened the men’s programme with Cosghun Aliyev’s victory at -60 kg, Brazil reached the top of the podium through Pedro Felipe Luis dos Santos Dantas, and Amadou Meite won +100 kg for France. Among the women, Maria Isabel Huitron Angeles of Mexico, Joana Santos of Portugal and Valentina Antonella Bonfanti of Argentina each claimed memorable victories.
Beyond the medals, Lausanne demonstrated the growing reach of deaf judo. Athletes from Europe, Asia and the Americas competed in the same arena as the World Judo Tour and adapted judo events, with Switzerland also celebrating a home bronze medal through Jonas Jenzer at -66 kg. It was another strong expression of an inclusive grand slam in which every judoka had their place on the tatami.
1. ALIYEV Cosghun (AZE)
2. DANTAS Pedro Felipe Luis dos Santos (BRA)
3. KAKITAYEV Altynbek (KAZ)
1. KHAMZE Gulama (KAZ)
2. TAPIA CHOQUE Juan Ivan Antonio (CHI)
3. JENZER Jonas (SUI)
1. KUANDYK Shadiyar (KAZ)
2. RIABCHENKO Mikhail (RUS)
3. ESTELLE Thomas (FRA)
1. KANAFIN Yerkebulan (KAZ)
2. AZIZOV Aydin Xaqani (AZE)
3. OTVOS Patrik (HUN)
4. OUREDNIK Raphael (FRA)
1. TUGELBAYEV Aidos (KAZ)
2. FILAKOVITY Martin (HUN)
+100 kg
1. MEITE Amadou (FRA)
2. KHAPIZOV Sabirzhan (KAZ)
1. HUITRON ANGELES MARIA ISABEL (MEX)
2. ZHETPISBAYEVA Aiym (KAZ)
1. KARA OGLY Feride (KAZ)
2. BOLEK Dominika (POL)
3. BOYACI Ayse Beril (TUR)
1. SANTOS Joana (POR)
2. TIRAS Buse (TUR)
1. YEGEMBERDIYEVA Evelina (KAZ)
2. ALTTUNTASH BIRCAN (TUR)
1. BONFANTI Valentina Antonella (ARG)
2. SVECOVA Julie (CZE)
1. KRAMOROVA Anna (KAZ)
2. TAILLY Ninon (FRA)