Precision defines a champion in the demanding world of judo. In the women’s 52 kg division, one athlete commands the mat with a focus that separates her from the rest.
Standing at just 5’2″, this Japanese judoka built her reputation on flawless technique. She relies on mastery, not physical power, to dominate her opponents.
Her gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics was a monumental achievement. Yet, her five world championship titles reveal a deeper truth. Consistency matters more than a single moment of glory.
She made history at sixteen as the youngest winner in senior international competition. That record signaled the arrival of a fully formed athlete, not just a prodigy.
Uta Abe carries forward Japan’s storied tradition in the sport. Her technical repertoire, from foot sweeps to holds, is executed with textbook form. It reflects thousands of hours of dedicated practice.
Uta Abe’s Triumphant Return: Clinching Gold and Redemption
A year after Olympic disappointment, the mat awaited a different outcome. The 2025 Budapest World Championships final became the stage for a remarkable comeback story.
Overcoming the Paris Setback
The loss at Paris 2024 haunted her training. Rather than anger, it fueled technical refinement. Her return at the Baku Grand Slam showed she hadn’t lost her edge.
Three consecutive wins by ippon silenced doubters. Each victory built momentum for Budapest.
Mastering the Ippon Technique
The final against Distria Krasniqi unfolded as a tactical chess match. With seconds remaining, Abe executed a perfect seoi-otoshi for ippon.
“My plan today was to do my own judo,” she stated after the match. This gold medal performance answered the question hanging over her career. The year between Olympic games and world championship success felt long but purposeful.
Judo in Budapest: Rivalries and Remarkable Performances
The second day of the world championships in Budapest began not with a throw, but with a rhythmic stamp of pointed boots. Traditional music filled the arena, a vibrant prelude to the intense judo that would follow. This day featured the -52kg and -66kg categories, setting the stage for dramatic parallel stories.
A Spectacular Opening in Hungary
The Hungarian folk ceremony created a powerful sense of place. It honored the host nation’s culture before the global competition commenced. The atmosphere was electric, blending local pride with international sporting spirit.
Intense Duels in the -52kg and -66kg Categories
On the mat, narratives diverged sharply. Hungary’s Roza Gyertyas sent the home crowd into a frenzy by winning a bronze medal. Her celebration lasted long after the ceremony, a moment of pure joy for the local judoka.
In a stunning upset, a star judoka’s long undefeated run ended in the quarter-finals. The loss sent shockwaves through the event. Meanwhile, his sister acknowledged the result but maintained a fierce focus on her own upcoming matches.
Moments of Victory and Celebration
Japan’s Takeoka Takeshi capitalized on the day’s upheaval. He won the -66kg world title with a perfectly timed foot sweep in the final. His victory was a masterclass in technical execution under pressure.
The win was especially poignant as he celebrated with his coach, Masashi Ebinuma, a former world champion. Their embrace symbolized a passing of the torch. It was a fitting end to a day that proved past records mean little in the present moment of competition.
Uta Abe: A Legacy in Judo
Five world titles across seven years tell a story of dominance that few athletes in any sport can claim. This champion’s record reflects sustained excellence, not a fleeting moment of glory.
Her career is a masterclass in consistency at the highest level of competition.
Historic Achievements and World Titles
The first world title arrived in 2018. At just eighteen, she became the third-youngest judoka to win a senior world championship.
That victory in Baku signaled the arrival of a new force. It was the start of an incredible run.
Subsequent titles were claimed in Tokyo, Tashkent, Doha, and Budapest. Winning on three different continents proves an ability to adapt to any condition.
This global success cements her place among the most decorated women in the sport’s history.
| Year | Location | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Baku | World Champion |
| 2019 | Tokyo | World Champion |
| 2022 | Tashkent | World Champion |
| 2023 | Doha | World Champion |
| 2025 | Budapest | World Champion |
From Young Prodigy to Olympic Gold Medalist
Her potential was clear early on. At sixteen, she made history as the youngest winner of a senior IJF event.
That early success was a preview of her technical mastery. It compensated for any physical disadvantage against older opponents.
The ultimate prize, Olympic gold, came at the Tokyo 2020 Games. She also contributed two team silver medals for Japan.
Ten Grand Slam gold medals further highlight her year-in, year-out prowess. Fellow Japanese judoka like Natsumi Tsunoda continue this tradition of excellence, showcasing the nation’s incredible depth.
Closing Insights: Japan’s Ongoing Judo Excellence
The true measure of a champion is often revealed in the year following the Olympic Games. For some, the games are a career peak. For others, they are a checkpoint on a longer journey of sustained performance.
This systematic depth was on full display at events like the Baku Grand Slam. Japan swept five divisions, with all-Japan finals in three categories. This dominance shows an unmatched talent pipeline.
Takeoka Takeshi’s emergence as the new -66kg world champion signals a shift. After a loss in the previous final, his win this year was a moment of pure release. “I had the strong feeling of having won,” he said, celebrating with his signature pose.
That same day, another Japanese judoka stood atop the podium, proving resilience is rewarded as much as raw talent. The sport’s women, like Uta Abe, demonstrate that Japan’s excellence spans all divisions. Each gold medal validates years of sacrifice.
Japan’s judo legacy rests on this foundation. New champions step forward when their time arrives, ensuring the nation’s command of the sport continues.
