Cypriot judoka Ioannis Antoniou wins gold at Lima Grand Prix

On August 16, 2026, Cypriot judoka Ioannis Antoniou secured the gold medal in the +100 kg category at the Grand Prix held in Lima, Peru. The victory was achieved through a decisive ippon during a powerful counterattack in the final match against Nikita Svirid, a competitor representing Croatia. This performance marks a historic milestone as it is the first Grand Prix gold medal for both Antoniou personally and the nation of Cyprus.

Antoniou, who described the victory as the highlight of his career thus far, has been building significant momentum this summer. His recent success follows another notable achievement on August 2, 2026, when he claimed gold for Cyprus at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland. These consecutive wins underscore the athlete's high level of preparation and his strengthening position on the international judo stage.