Prieditis and Kalman Add Two More U.S. Medals at Veterans Worlds

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by Bill Kellick

Michael Prieditis (l) stands on the M5 +100kg podium with his silver medal (Photo by IJF)

Michael Prieditis (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Work Time Judo) and Gyula Kalman (Lewisville, Texas / Eastside Dojo) won medals on Wednesday in their respective divisions at the International Judo Federation Veterans World Championships in Paris, giving the U.S. its third and fourth medals at the event.

Prieditis captured the silver medal in the M5 (males 50-54) +100 kg division, recording wins by ippon (instant win) over Bogdan Luca (GBR) in the quarterfinals and Jens Peter Bischof (GER) in the semifinal. He lost in the final to nine-time veteran world champion Alexsi Davitashvili (GEO). It marked Prieditis' third straight trip to the podium at Veteran Worlds, having won silver in 2023 and bronze last year.

Kalman went 4-1 in the M6 (males 55-59) 81 kg competition to earn the bronze medal. In the round of 32 he scored two waza-ari (half point) to defeat Ivan Marc Hery Randrianjohany (MAD), then won back-to-back matches by waza-ari over Christophe Le Gorbelec (FRA) and Humberto Davila (CHI) to reach the medal round. After losing by waza-ari to Gerhard Grafmueller (GER) in the semifinal, Kalman rebounded to defeat Fernando Marverti (ITA) by waza-ari to earn the bronze.

Gyula Kalman (2nd from right) on the podium with his M6 81kg bronze medal (Photo by IJF)

Also finishing in the top-8 for the U.S. on Wednesday was Alexandre Andrianov (Babylon, N.Y. / Team Combat Judo) placing seventh in the M5 81 kg division.

Competition at the Veterans Worlds continues through Friday.

Wednesday's top-8 U.S. results are as follows:

Men’s 5 (50-54) +100 kg
1. Alexsi Davitashvili (GEO)
2. Michael Prieditis (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Work Time Judo)
3. Grigory Garyants (ARM)
3. Elton Fiebig (BRA)
5. Jens Peter Bischof (GER)
5. Jacek Szmatloch (POL)
7. Damien Reinhard (FRA)
7. Bogdan Lica (GBR)

Men’s 6 (55-59) 81 kg
1. Gerhard Grafmueller (GER)
2. Batsukh Gelgee (MGL)
3. Gyula Kalman (Lewisville, Texas / Eastside Dojo)
3. Christophe Le Gorbelec (FRA)
5. Fernando Marverti (ITA)
5. Valerio Romeo (ITA)
7. Dariusz Pawlowski (POL)
7. Alam Saraiva (BRA)

Men’s 5 (50-54) 81 kg
1. Abedias Trindade De Abreu (NCL)
2. David Babise (FRA)
3. Daniel Belliard (FRA)
3. Jose M. Rodriguez Gonzalez (ESP)
5. Yvan Barnich (BEL)
5. Constantin Cremene (ROU)
7. Gary Evans (GBR)
7. Alexandre Andrianov (Babylon, N.Y. / Team Combat Judo)

Full Veterans World Championships Results