Judoka Stefan Schulz fought his way to fifth place at the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/05/angelique-duriez-from-judo-club-argentan-crowned-french-military-champion/" title="Angélique Duriez, from Judo Club Argentan, crowned French military champion”>Veterans World Championship. Bronze went to the Mackenbacher athlete, a member of the Ippon judo club Ludwigshafenat the Veterans World Championships held in Las Vegas, is definitely within reach. But Schulz is also absolutely satisfied with fifth place.
“I want to know whether I can keep up with the best, I still want to find out where I have some catching up to do,” is how he explains his motivation for competing with the best judokas in the world in the M6 (55 to 59 years) plus 100 kilo age group measure. For him, the competition is synonymous with checking his own performance and motivation for the future.
It started against an opponent from Azerbaijan for the full duration of the fight. In the end, the Palatinate player recorded two Wazari scores to win. The second fight, against a judoka from America, also lasted the entire fight for Schulz. The win took him to the semi-finals. Another American was waiting there, significantly taller and physically superior. “Initially everything was balanced. But one of my attempts to throw was countered, and that was it,” Schulz looks back. Third place was against a judoka from England. An injury that Stefan Schulz sustained during the fight forced him to end the small final early. He finished fifth in the World Cup. “Stamina, judo tactics and technique were top,” he says, analyzing his performance in Las Vegas.
