Krpálek wins bronze at European judo championships

Czech judoka Lukáš Krpálek has won bronze at the European Judo Championships in Podgorica, claiming his seventh career medal at the event.

The two-time Olympic champion defeated Ukraine’s Yevhenii Balievskyi in the over-100 kg bronze medal match, securing victory by ippon two and a half minutes into the bout. It’s Krpálek’s third European bronze, adding to those from Warsaw 2017 and Lisbon 2021.

The 34-year-old only lost in the semifinal to defending champion Inal Tasoev of Russia. His medal follows Renata Zachová’s gold earlier this week, marking the first time Czechia has earned two medals at a single European Judo Championship.