Amazing record for Dutch team taking 10 gold medals at a Junior European Cup

Twenty medals and ten titles, the Dutch can go home with a good feeling. They completely wiped out the competition taking over 60% of the gold at the European Cup in Coimbra. A weekend these youngsters will never forget in their careers. Total domination, but on the other hand, in this age category it doesn't say too much for their careers. But the talent pool of the Netherlands is still full of fresh fish.

Never one nation won 10 gold medals at a Junior European Cup, only a few countries that won 9 gold medals at an event at home, the Russian in Tver, The Greek in Mudania, but never a foreign country won such amount in the history of the European Cups in Judo initiated in 2009. An amazing record, when on Saturday you think it can’t get any better. An interesting chemistry with the Dutch in Coimbra. In 2014 Holland won 7 gold medals, in 2015 five and this edition an almost impossible double figure of 10 gold medals.

The Sunday started with gold for World Cadet Champion Sanne Vermeer U63kg, a competitive weight category, but also here a 17-year youngster can win. In the final she defeated last year’s champion Lubjana Piovesana (GBR) who dominated the whole European circuit last year with seven medals. Next was gold for Jim Heijman U81kg in a field of 37 young men and a Portuguese experienced opponent in Anri Egutidze. On a day like this everything shines for the Dutch and Heijman took gold. Sara Rodriguez is a tough opponent. The Spanish won the title last year in Coinbra U78kg, but stepped back to U70 and snatched the title for Dutch World bronze medallist Natascha Ausma.

Just like Egutidze (POR) Nikoloz Sherazadashvili of Spain has Georgian roots. He defeated Canadian former World Cadet champion Louis Krieber-Gagnon in the final U90kg. We should be happy that there are exceptions, as in U78 Ilona Lucassen defeated Portuguese Patricia Sampaio in the final, for Lucassen her first European Cup victory on this special day they will never forget. The final U100kg for men was a target for World Cadet champion Simeon Catharina. Sounds logical but in one weight category higher it’s quite exceptional to win with a severe opponent in Davide Pozzi of Italy. But there’s only gold shining for the Orange team today.

Good news for Ukraine as Vasylyna Kyrychenko captured the gold in the women’s plus category in the final against Michelle Boyle. Kyrychenko defended her title successfully. Last but not least Jur Spijkers had to defend his title of last year in Portugal and he did well. He learned from previous mistakes and could overcome Alessandro Graziano of Italy in the final +100kg. an Amazing tenth gold medal for the Dutch. A remarkable day in Coimbra. In ten year’ s time, these athletes will still remember this weekend in Portugal!