Patrícia Sampaio defeated Anna Monta Olek in the final of the -78 category
Portuguese judoka Patrícia Sampaio claimed her first European title on Saturday, defeating German opponent Anna Monta Olek in the final of the -78kg category.
Her triumph at the 2025 European Judo Championships, held between April 23 and 27 in Podgorica, Montenegro, marked a new high in the 25-year-old athlete’s career – one already filled with notable achievements, such as a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite her victory, the judoka from Tomar remained modest, downplaying the idea of a “perfect day.”
“I don’t know if perfect is the word, but it was a spectacular day, yes,” Sampaio told Lusa news agency. “There’s always something to improve, even when you win. But it was definitely spectacular.”
Sampaio, who had previously earned a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships in Montpellier, relied on her “explosive” brand of judo to overcome her rival in the final.
“I’m known for attacking a lot and being very determined in each move,” she explained. “Some matches end quickly because of that, and it gives me confidence not only because I save energy, but because it reassures me for the rest of the competition.”
Proof of Sampaio’s blitzing style is that she won her first two bouts in a combined time of just over one minute. In the semi-finals, she faced a tougher challenge against the reigning champion from France, Audrey Tcheuméo – an Olympic, World and European medallist. Despite the high stakes, Sampaio maintained constant pressure, forcing her opponent into passivity and eventually disqualification through a series of penalties (shidos).
“It was a very tactical match. I had already fought her in the Paris semi-finals this year, and it unfolded the same way. It’s a very patient, very strategic fight, but I fought the way I always do, trying to throw, and that’s what led to her penalties.”
In the final, Sampaio faced Anna Monta Olek of Germany – an athlete she knew from training camps but had never encountered in competition. True to form, she kept up the intensity and secured victory with a flawless sode tsurikomi goshi, a hip throw that earned her an ippon—judo’s equivalent of a knockout. Her secret to success? “No matter who I face, I stick to my strategy, adjusting it only to fit my opponent. And I focus a lot on that, on what I have to do and not so much who is on the other side,” she told Lusa.
When asked if her victory called for a new anthem, Sampaio referenced her longtime walkout song, “Unstoppable” by Sia, adding with a grin that “We Are the Champions” by Queen might now have a place in her playlist.
“I’m the champion, but I’m still ‘unstoppable,’ so I think I can use both,” she exclaimed.
Meanwhile, fellow Portuguese judoka Catarina Costa also reached the podium in Podgorica. Competing in the -48 kg category, Costa secured a silver medal after being defeated by France’s Shirine Boukli, currently ranked sixth in the world.
