Fulda Judo: 8 Medals at Hesse Championships & Qualify for Southwest German Championships

Fulda, Germany – The 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club demonstrated exceptional skill at the Hessian Individual Championships held in Marburg on February 11, 2026, securing a total of eight medals across the U15, U18 and U21 age groups. This performance qualifies eight athletes for the Southwest German Individual Championships in Wörrstadt.

A Weekend of Competition

Over 340 young athletes from across Hesse competed for medals and the chance to advance to the Southwest German Championships. The 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club’s athletes rose to the challenge, achieving notable results in both individual and age-group categories.

Michelle Müller’s Double Success

Sixteen-year-old Michelle Müller had a particularly successful weekend. She secured a silver medal in the U18 (-57kg) category after a close final match against Franziska Schiemann of Kim Chi Wiesbaden. Müller then went on to win gold in the U21 (-57kg) category, defeating Katharina Riehl of Turngemeinde Hochheim and Johanna Wint of Tamanegi Griesheim.

Other Medalists

Thore Menges claimed a silver medal in the U15 category (-43kg), falling to Daniel Gupalo of Kim Chi Wiesbaden in the final. Ivan Fedorenko (-60kg) and Maximilian Michel (-66kg) also earned silver medals in the U18 division, losing to Loris Dutenhöfer of Kim Chi Wiesbaden and Viktor Markov, respectively. Rabea Hohmann secured a silver medal in the U21 (-63kg) category. Lea Rudolphi and Ben Hartmann both won bronze medals in the U18 category (-55kg).

Did You Know? The competition in Marburg involved over 340 young athletes vying for qualification to the Southwest German Individual Championships.

Strong Performances Beyond the Medals

Several athletes achieved strong finishes, placing fifth: Max Schlaudraff and Antoni Regula (both U18, -66kg), Michal Szymanski (U18, -81kg), Julius Michel (U15, -37kg), and Timo Teuber (U15, -60kg). Kajetan Regula and Urata Troni (both U15) also competed.

Coach’s Perspective

Trainer Mike Thiel expressed his enthusiasm for his athletes’ development, noting that some matches were narrowly lost due to minor errors. He emphasized the importance of addressing these errors to further improve performance.

Expert Insight: The strong showing by the 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club highlights the potential for continued success at the Southwest German Championships, where athletes will face competitors from a wider regional pool.

Looking Ahead

The athletes who qualified will now prepare for the Southwest German Individual Championships in Wörrstadt. Their performance there could lead to further opportunities at the national level. Some athletes may face familiar opponents, while others will encounter new challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age groups competed at the Hessian Championships?

The competition included athletes in the U15, U18, and U21 age groups.

How many athletes from the 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club qualified for the Southwest German Championships?

Eight athletes from the 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club qualified for the Southwest German Individual Championships.

Who was the head coach of the 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club team?

Mike Thiel is the head coach of the 1. Fuldaer Judo-Club team.

What does this level of success mean for the future of Judo in the Fulda region?