Ukrainian judoka Anton Savitsky became the winner of the 2026 Grand Prix tournament in Zagreb in the under-100 kg weight category. For the athlete, this is already his second gold on the Zagreb tatami and his third Grand Prix victory overall in his career. The final bout took place in a tense atmosphere: Savitsky defeated Hungary's Zsombor Veg with an early ippon victory with just 43 seconds left in regulation time.
The Path to Gold: From Quarterfinal to Decisive Bout
The road to the tournament's main award for the Ukrainian began in the quarterfinals, where he defeated Serbia's Brasnjevic. In the semifinal match, Savitsky delivered a confident performance, defeating Switzerland's Daniel Eich. In the decisive bout, his opponent was Hungarian judoka Zsombor Veg. The match ended prematurely: Savitsky executed an ippon with 43 seconds remaining in regulation time. An early ippon victory is the highest form of ending a bout in judo, emphasizing the Ukrainian's dominance in the final.
Zagreb as a "Home" Trophy: From Debut Gold in 2024 to Repetition
The victory in Zagreb marked a repetition of Savitsky's 2024 success, when he first won gold at a Grand Prix tournament in his career. It was on the Zagreb tatami that the Ukrainian made his breakthrough into the elite of world judo, and in 2026 he confirmed his status as one of the top contenders for this tournament. Thus, Zagreb has turned into a venue where the athlete has twice stepped onto the highest step of the podium.
Third Grand Prix Title and a Rich Collection of Awards
Savitsky now has three Grand Prix gold medals to his name: two victories in Zagreb (2024, 2026) and a win at the Grand Prix Upper Austria 2026 in Linz. In addition to gold, the Ukrainian's collection includes bronze medals from stages in Budapest (2016), Linz, and Guadalajara (2025). Such a set of awards demonstrates a consistently high level of performance over several seasons.
The 2026 Season as the Peak of His Career
The 2026 season has been particularly fruitful for Anton Savitsky. At the start of the season, he won a silver medal at the prestigious Paris Grand Slam, then took gold at the Linz Grand Prix, and in the autumn became a bronze medalist at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. The victory in Zagreb became another significant achievement in this eventful year and brought the athlete his third title at Grand Prix competitions. The combination of results—silver and bronze at Grand Slam tournaments, two golds and a bronze at Grand Prix stages—makes the 2026 season one of the most productive in the Ukrainian judoka's career.
Context: Ukrainian Judo in the International Arena
Savitsky's success in Zagreb continues a series of bright performances by Ukrainian fighters in international tournaments. During the same period, sumo wrestler Daniil Aonishiki Yavgusishin secured his second victory at the prestigious Kyushu Basho-2026 tournament in Japan, demonstrating the breadth of sporting achievements by Ukrainian athletes in various combat sports. The International Judo Federation (IJF) logo present on official tournament materials emphasizes the status of Grand Prix Zagreb as one of the key events in the global judo calendar.
