Michaela Polleres defeats April Lynn Fohouo (Photo by by Gabriela Sabau/IJF)
There were some big changes to the status quo on day two in the Tips Arena. The Upper Austria Grand Prix provided drama, intrigue, breakthrough performances and all under the roof of a packed arena, filled with local, appreciative judo fans.
On day one Japan had topped the medal table with 3 gold medals. On day two they had none. On the opening day Great Britain just missed out on a bronze medal but on day two they delivered a breakthrough moment as Ethan Nairne won the nation’s third ever grand prix gold, beating three Olympic medallists along the way.
Also on day one, Spain won an incredible six medals but on day two none of the Spanish team arrived in the final block.
Day two in Austria confirmed these ideas perfectly. At -63 kg, the top seeds won and respected the rankings. At -81 kg, a new podium took shape while at -73 kg, a newcomer won but big known names were also present. Day three is now on the horizon and we can’t wait for whatever new stories we find there.
The day also saw Michaela Polleres delivering a gold for the hosts,
Polleres, double Olympic medallist and Austrian heroine, was up against one of the new generation judokas in April Lynn Fohouo of Switzerland.
It was a high-octane match, both women attacking and both finding their route to avoid being thrown while putting the other at risk. Eventually the more experienced of the two prevailed but it took more than four minutes to do it. In a flurry of attacks, Polleres tipped Fohouo over and she lost her balance completely. It was ippon for Polleres and the gold with it.
The two top seeds in the women’s -63kg took lumps out of the rest of the field. Olympic and double world champion Rafaela Silva of Brazil, still sharp and strong at 33 years old, after 17 years on the World Judo Tour, looked to be in devastating form.
Facing Rafaela Silva in the final was was Olympic and double world bronze medallist Laura Fazliu, Kosovo’s latest star, always a near guarantee of a medal no matter who else seeks the podium.
Both judoka came out wanting to throw and this is what the judo public love to see. This was a contest fought at the highest level by two athletes who know how to reach a podium.
Only one winner could come out of it though and the all-important score came from Silva as the last minute approached. Fazliu fought hard to get it back but it wasn’t to be. Silva’s yuko throw was enough to earn her a gold medal, Fazliu had to accept silver.
In a category where all four top seeds fell away from the path to the final, one by one, beaten by unexpected adversaries or by their own mistakes, the men’s -81kg was assured of medallists making their way to the Upper Austria Grand Prix podium for the first time.
Bilal Ciloglu of Turkey won grand prix gold way back in 2018, in Agadir, and although he has top class ability, also evidence by his world bronze in 2021, his results have been inconsistent throughout his career.
In Linz though, in 2026, he made sure every element of his plan was just as it needed to be. He was strong, persistent and focused and it paid off perfectly, all the way to the final.
In the final, Ciloglu met World Judo Tour final block debutant Ethan Nairne of Great Britain, a fighter who gave the performance of his life to overcome no less than three Olympic medallists on his way to meet the Turkish judoka. Osmanov of Moldovia, Basile of Italy and Cargnin of Brazil were taken by surprise, not expecting the dynamic energy of Nairne.
Ciloglu appeared more prepared than those who came before him, neutralising Nairne’s preferred attacking positions but the Brit, on blistering form all day, found his way. His plan seemed to be to stay on the attack no matter what and it began to pay dividends. As time wore on, Ciloglu slowed down where Nairne did not. Two minutes into golden score, Nairne caught his opponent with an o-soto and was awarded a yuko for his trouble.
Nairne is only the third British man ever to have won gold in a grand prix since the establishment of the World Judo Tour in 2009. His work rate and composure made him the best in a stacked field, an impressive day from start to finish.
The men’s -81kg also saw the the top four seeds, including the winner of the last two editions, Antonio Esposito of Italy crashing out/
In the final, 2025 Lima Grand Prix winner, Vusal Galandarzade of Azerbaijan and Adult Almat of Kazakhstan, a first-timer in a World Judo Tour final block, arrived ready to make their mark.
It was the former who opened the bidding, countering for a yuko a minute and a half into the contest. However, he was also up against two penalties and that made him cautious. Protecting his score too much, Galandarzade left a space for Almat to fill. Using a fast sumi-gaeshi, Almat scored a waza-ari and moved straight into a hold-down. The gold was heading to Kazakhstan.
RESULTS
Men
-73 kg: 1. NAIRNE Ethan (GBR), 2. CILOGLU Bilal (TUR); 3. YONEZUKA Jack (USA) and CARGNIN Daniel (BRA); 5. BASILE Fabio (ITA) and DE OLIVEIRA Guilherme (BRA); 7. ANDREOU Kyprianos (CYP) and SHUHALIEIEV Anton (ESP)
-81 kg: 1. ALMAT Adilet (KAZ); 2. GALANDARZADE Vusal (AZE); 3. 3. RAJABLI Omar (AZE) and 3. SIMIN Mihajlo (SRB); 5. IHANAMAKI Eetu (FIN) and GRUJICIC Vasilije (SRB); 7. NURKOVIC Jahja (MNE) and ZHUBANAZAR Abylaikhan (KAZ)
Women
-63 kg: 1. SILVA Rafaela (BRA); 2. FAZLIU Laura (KOS); 3. PRIMO Kerem (ISR) and SHARIR Gili (ISR); 5. BAUER Sara-Joy (GER) and VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ Laura (ESP); 7. MANOVA Yoana (BUL) and CVJETKO Nina (CRO)
-70 kg: 1. POLLERES Michaela (AUT); 2. FOHOUO April Lynn (SUI); 3. PINA Tais (POR) and POHL Dena (GER); 5. ORUC Sinem (TUR) and BOCK Samira (GER); 7. PETERSEN POLLARD Kelly (GBR) and NILSSON Ingrid (SWE)
