Ai Tsunoda’s gold medal at the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, marks a historic milestone for Spanish sport and a significant achievement for the community of Lleida. The 24-year-old athlete, whose training base is in the capital of the Segarra region, claimed gold in the under-70 kg category by defeating Austria’s Michaela Polleres in the final.

This result not only adds a new title to Tsunoda’s palmarès but also breaks a persistent pattern in the history of the Spanish national team in this specific weight class. According to data provided by the competition, this is the first time the Spanish national anthem has been played in this particular category at the sport’s premier international event. For the citizens of Lleida, the news transcends purely competitive matters: it reflects the international profile of an athlete who lives and trains in the city, consolidating the role of local clubs as breeding grounds for elite talent.

The final in Baku carried a direct element of redemption. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Tsunoda had fallen to the same opponent, Michaela Polleres. That Olympic defeat has shaped the Spanish athlete’s preparation over the past two years. The judoka, of Japanese and French origin, has always competed under the pressure of being the absolute reference for her country in the middleweight division. Competition reports indicate that, although her results in intermediate tournaments have been solid, finals have systematically eluded her.

The immediate competitive backdrop includes a bronze medal at the 2024 European Championships in Zagreb and a defeat in the repechage final in Budapest in 2025 against the Dutch judoka Sanne van Dijke. These decisive losses served as the starting point for the preparation undertaken at the training centre linked to Lleida. There, Tsunoda worked with the technical team of the Spanish Judo Federation to correct the tactical errors that had repeatedly prevented her from securing gold.

In the Baku final, the dynamic of the match shifted compared with previous competitions. Tsunoda imposed her technical approach from the very first seconds. The Spanish judoka demonstrated notable strategic maturity, managing the pacing of the bout and forcing errors in her opponent’s defence. The victory was not determined solely by points, but by the ability of the judoka from Lleida to dictate the tempo of the fight. By overcoming Polleres, Tsunoda validated her superiority at the crucial moment, surmounting the psychological and technical obstacle posed by the Austrian.

The connection with Lleida is a structural feature of Tsunoda’s career. Although she officially represents the Spanish national team, her day-to-day life is closely tied to the city. The local newspaper La Mañana describes her as “ilerdenca”, a term that underscores her residence and training base. This constant presence allows the local community to know the athlete closely, a factor that humanises her public profile and reinforces local pride. In a context where local sports management is sometimes overlooked, Tsunoda’s success highlights Lleida’s capacity to develop and retain elite athletes.

The milestone in Baku carries a historical dimension that transcends the competition itself. For years, Spanish judo has relied on figures such as Carlos Martín in other weight categories, yet in the up to 70-kilogramme class, the absence of world golds has been a persistent feature. Tsunoda, who was already the junior world champion in 2021 and 2022, has successfully completed the transition from promising talent to the current dominant figure in Spanish judo. Her record, which includes the 2024 European bronze and the current world gold, positions her as the most prominent Spanish athlete in the discipline today.

Securing this world title reinforces the image of Spanish sport abroad. It demonstrates that the preparation system of the Spanish Judo Federation, with its hubs in cities such as Lleida, is capable of producing world-class results. The reaction within the national sporting community has been one of recognition for Tsunoda’s maturity and the solidity of her technical team. In Lleida, the news has been received with particular attention, reinforcing the notion that the city is a breeding ground for top-tier sporting talent.

With this title, Ai Tsunoda enters a new phase of her career. The victory in Baku serves as a catalyst for her immediate future. The Spanish judoka is now the clear favourite to defend her title in upcoming World Championships. Her primary objective is now to target the Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028. Overcoming Michaela Polleres, her historic rival, removes one of the main obstacles standing in her path towards that goal.

The athlete’s next challenge will be to sustain consistency throughout the 2026 season. The Spanish Judo Federation has backed her career from the very beginning and views this triumph as validation of its sports management model. For the city of Lleida, this world gold medal represents a significant asset for its image, highlighting the daily efforts of local clubs and facilities. Tsunoda, who will turn 24 in April 2026, is currently at the peak of her physical and mental capabilities. Her clear objective is to remain in the world’s elite for the next four years.

Her victory in Baku, where she defeated her Olympic rival and broke a streak of lost finals, now stands as the defining moment of her legacy. The judoka has demonstrated that consistency from her base in Lleida is fully compatible with conquering the world stage. The Spanish anthem has echoed in Baku, and the figure of this athlete, linked to the Segarra region, has become the focal point of interest in Spanish judo.

Following the celebrations, Ai Tsunoda’s agenda will focus on the 2026 season’s competitions. The Spanish Judo Federation will announce the preparation schedule in the coming weeks, which will include key World Cup tournaments and the European Championships. The judoka enters as the outright favourite in all events up to 70 kilograms. Fans in Lleida and across the country will be watching her next performance, where she must confirm that the Baku gold marks a turning point in the history of Spanish judo.