Vote here for Hanover’s judoka Igor Wandtke

Hannover. No one from the German team was on the mat longer in this fight for bronze. And in the end he stood there stunned and speechless. Judoka Igor Wandtke was a tragic hero of the Paris Olympics. He lost the decisive battle in the team mixed competition for bronze in a highly controversial manner. This defeat had consequences – not least that the 34-year-old from JT Hannover continued. Wandtke talks about the Bundeswehr, the problems in his sport and his new phase of life.

When everyone came to you after the bitter end, when bronze was lost, what do you remember?

I have no memory, I was in shock. I didn’t notice the moment. But there was absolute support, no accusations or anything. I still remember that.

They had already won in the small team final against the Korean An Baul and needed nine and a half minutes. And then another incredible 15 minutes in the decisive duel. That would have been enough for five fights, an insane amount of work, a marathon…

Well, you prepare for something like that. That’s what you train for. And after my win I knew I’d have another go.

Like that? This is where the “Wheel of Fortune” comes into play; the final duel is determined using a random generator.

It was clear that after me Miriam Butkereit would win and equalize. And there had only been one exciting fight before. It made sense that we would want to see it again. And that’s how the “Wheel of Fortune” came about. I’ll say that didn’t surprise me.

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And then suddenly everything was over, and you wanted to attack your opponent again. They received the third penalty for passivity. The referee was booed and there was a real mood in the room.

Yes, apparently it didn’t fit into the schedule, they wanted to end it quickly. There was some trouble. But this is now falling on the feet of the world association.

What do you mean by that?

In the final, the Japanese felt even more disadvantaged against France. They wanted to get out of the world association and do their own thing. Now everyone is waiting for rule changes, they are sure to come. We are excited about it. Our sport is unattractive and not very fun, and many people reflect that on us. You no longer understand the decisions.

You didn’t really do that in the individual competition, did you?

I lost in the round of 16. It was over and I didn’t know why. And how should laypeople understand that? It’s not a sport like football, where someone scores a goal and that counts. It’s not that easy in judo.

What will change?

The whole judo suit will probably be a target again. To put it simply, attacks on the legs are currently not allowed. There will be more ratings, judo will become more attractive. These are probably the consequences of the Olympics. Some are already training afterwards. But that’s all speculation. The judo world is excited to see what happens.

You’ve made a decision, are you going to move on?

Yes, it wouldn’t be nice to stop like that.

You’re a sports soldier, so that probably helps a lot, right?

Yes, this is the best option for those who don’t want to become a police officer. This is now my 13th year, I can concentrate fully on the sport. You can make a good living from it, and there are courses every now and then. And then there is a five-year career search period in which the federal government helps with the transition to civilian life. I did a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management in my free time. Studying is, so to speak, my hobby.

A lot of things are new for you…

That’s correct. I married my long-time girlfriend Elna in October. We met almost ten years ago at judo; she is a university lecturer in Giessen. And because I am and will be traveling a lot, that’s okay.

Consolation for the marathon man: The teammates support Igor Wandtke (fourth from left) after the controversial defeat.

Quelle: Marijan Murat/dpa

You come from Lübeck, but have lived in Ricklingen for a long time.

Yes, that is ideal. I can get to the S-Bahn stop very quickly and get to training in six minutes by bike. I feel comfortable here.

You also have a lot going on when it comes to sport, is that right?

Yes, we are getting a new national coach. Marco Spittka (won Olympic bronze in 1996, d. Red.) has a lot of experience. And there will be a new judo base manager in Hanover. But now we can take some time to see that the next qualification cycle for the Olympics doesn’t begin until June 2026.

After these very bitter events at the games in Paris, what are the goals for Los Angeles?

I just want to do well.

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