The conversion in the domestic judo camp is progressing happily: while the expansion of the federal base on the Gugl is being finalized by July, there are three debutants in Austria’s ten-man squad for the European Championships starting tomorrow in Sofia. They include Daniel Leutgeb from Ternberg (up to 60 kilograms), who forms an Upper Austrian men’s quartet with Daniel Allerstorfer (over 100) and the brothers Wachid (up to 90) and Shamil Borchashvili (up to 81).
A reorganization has recently also been carried out at the coaching level: After the German Olympic champion Yvonne Bönisch was won as the new head coach at the beginning of 2021, two internationally known judoka, the Pole Robert Krawczyk and the Brazilian Felipe Kitadai, were assigned to her side this year. Former European champion Krawczyk, who has already worked successfully in Belgium, will work as the second leader alongside Bönisch at the Linz base from May. “When the going gets tough, Yvonne is in charge,” says ÖJV sports director Markus Moser.
While Krawczyk is considered a former 81-kilogram fighter and a representative of European-style judo, lightweight Kitadai comes more from the Brazilian and Japanese direction. “So we wanted to have a good mix in the coaching team, with something for every style and every weight,” Moser explains the orientation of the reorganization, which is now complete.
Kitadai, who won Olympic bronze in 2012, has already moved into an apartment in Linz. Because of the birth of his first child, he recently returned to his home country for several weeks. With Sabrina, the little girl was given an unusual name for Brazil. Was Sabrina Filzmoser, who is currently climbing Mount Everest in the Himalayas, the patron saint? “She’s definitely a very good friend,” replied the 32-year-old with a smile.
In 2011, Filzmoser was also the last Austrian Judo European Champion. Since then, the ÖJV team has won ten medals at continental championships.
Source: Nachrichten
