Para Judo GermanyNews
News
What’s happening with the national team and at the national training centre, in chronological order. The latest entries are at the top.
- in Tbilisi. The German team will compete at the IBSA Judo World Championships in Georgia. Results and event details can be found in The IBSA calendar.
- website is now live. It will be updated in the coming weeks with photos, the current squad and further News.
- medals at the home European Championships. Silver for Isabell Thal and Daniel Goral, bronze for Vanessa Wagner at the SNP dome in Heidelberg. Read the follow-up report.
- National training centre opened. Since this day, Para judo has had its permanent training base at the Rhein-Neckar Olympic Training Centre in Heidelberg.
Post-event report
2026 European Para judo Championships in Heidelberg: Three medals on home soil
From 14 to 16 August 2026, around 120 athletes from 23 nations competed for the European titles at the SNP dome in Heidelberg. The German team, fielding five competitors, won three medals.
| Athlete | Class | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Isabell Thal | J2, up to 60 kg | Silver |
| Daniel Goral | J2, up to 95 kg | Silver |
| Vanessa Wagner | J1, up to 52 kg | Bronze |
| Béla Bel Heinze | J2, up to 81 kg | 5th place |
| Samuel van Melle | J2, up to 81 kg | 7th place |
From the press release issued by the German Disabled Sports Association
“This was a very special European Championships for us. Our athletes had their families and friends there to support them, which is of course not usually the case when events are held in other countries. It creates a great atmosphere and simply makes it even more enjoyable for our athletes to compete. Heidelberg is a special place for us,” said national head coach Carmen Bruckmann.
Isabell Thal competed in the under-60-kilogramme weight category and was only beaten by world champion Daria Stakanova. Daniel Goral, who defeated Spain’s Inigo Gerboles Lopes by ippon in the decisive bout, also won silver in the J2 under-95-kilogramme category. Vanessa Wagner had returned to the mat just in time for the home European Championships following a lengthy break from competition and took bronze in the J1 52-kilogramme category: “I’m absolutely delighted because I’d expected anything but not to win a medal here in Heidelberg.” Béla Bel Heinze reached the bronze-medal match in the J2 81-kilogramme category following strong performances in the repechage and finished fifth, whilst Samuel van Melle came seventh in the same category.
“I’m very pleased with our performance at these European Championships. We’ve seen that we’re competitive on the international stage, and at the same time we’ve witnessed how our young athletes thrive on such challenges,” said Bruckmann.
Marc Möllmann, Director of Elite Sport at the DBS: “The European Championships have impressively confirmed what we already sensed after the 2024 Grand Prix: Heidelberg and the Rhine-Neckar region know how to host Para judo, and they know how to host European Championships. Not only have we witnessed top-class sport here, but we have also created a special atmosphere and generated great enthusiasm for our athletes.”
The next highlight of the season will take place from 25 to 27 September 2026 with the World Championships in Tbilisi. “We’ll be heading there too, with the aim of winning medals,” said Bruckmann.
The squad: Daniel Goral (SSG Blista Marburg), Béla Bel Heinze (1. Mannheimer JC), Samuel van Melle (TSV München-Großhadern), Isabell Thal (Budoka Höntrop), Vanessa Wagner (1. Mannheimer JC).
Source: German Disabled Sports Association, press release dated 16 August 2026. Quotes reproduced verbatim. Photos: Ralf Kuckuck / DBS.