Ukraine Celebrates Its First Ever Youth Olympic Judo Gold Thanks to Khazar Heydarov in 2026

Ukraine Secures Historic Judo Gold at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: At the 2026 Youth Olympic Games taking place in Dakar, Ukrainian judoka Khazar Heydarov made history by winning Ukraine’s first-ever gold medal in judo at this event. Competing in the under-66 kg weight division, Heydarov faced Canadian athlete Anes Mati in a tense final match. This landmark victory marked Ukraine’s initial podium finish at the 2026 Youth Olympics.

On his way to the final, Heydarov defeated:

• Senegal’s Matar Diop
• Hungary’s Nimrod Mildner

The championship bout lasted the full four minutes without any scoring actions, pushing the contest into the "golden score" overtime. During the fourth minute of this sudden-death period, Mati received his third shido penalty, resulting in an automatic loss. Heydarov was declared the winner with a score officially recorded as 100:0.

The Significance of This Triumph

This gold medal stands as Ukraine’s first at the 2026 Youth Olympics and represents a historic milestone for Ukrainian judo at the Youth Olympic level. Prior to this, Ukraine had earned a silver medal in 2014 and bronze medals in 2010 and 2018 in judo at the Youth Olympics. At just 17 years old, Khazar Heydarov already held two European Cadet Championship golds, and this achievement further cements his position as a rising star in the sport.

Heydarov’s victory holds deep importance not only for him personally but also for the broader landscape of Ukrainian sports. It highlights the growing international competitiveness of young Ukrainian athletes and showcases the nation’s ability to nurture talent capable of excelling on the world stage. Building on previous successes, this breakthrough gold could inspire a new generation of judokas in Ukraine and fuel the sport’s development nationwide.

This remarkable achievement not only highlights Khazar Heydarov's talent but also reflects the growing strength of Ukrainian judo on the international stage. To further explore how Heydarov secured this historic win, including details of his opponent's penalties and the match dynamics, check out our coverage of the 17-year-old's journey to gold.