British Squad Set for 2026 Paris Grand Slam Challenge

The 2026 Paris Grand Slam begins tomorrow, and with an exciting 11-judoka British squad competing at this landmark event on the judo calendar, anticipation is high as they prepare to take on the very best in the world.

Michael Fryer (Rush Judo) will enter the -66kg division, competing at the Paris Grand Slam for the first time in his career. He will be looking to make a strong impression and gain valuable experience on one of judo’s biggest stages. Fryer enjoyed a successful 2025 on the European circuit, claiming gold at the Sarajevo European Open, silver at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup and bronze at the La Nucia European Open, and will be aiming to translate that form onto the IJF World Tour. He will begin his campaign in the Round of 64 against Denis Vieru (MDA).

Charlie Young (Ryecroft JC) also lines up at -66kg, making his first competitive appearance of 2026. Young enjoyed a strong 2025, securing silver at the Podgorica Senior European Cup, bronze at the Prague European Open, a fifth-place finish at the Guadalajara Grand Prix and most recently seventh at the Zagreb Grand Prix. Having shown promising form at Grand Prix level, he will be aiming to build on those performances in his Paris Grand Slam debut. He will open his competition in the Round of 64 against Vazha Mergvelashvili (GEO).

Irakli Goginashvili (Palavani JC) is an exciting addition to the squad at -73kg, taking a significant step up to Grand Slam competition at just 19 years old. Goginashvili enjoyed a standout 2025, finishing in the top three of the IJF Judo Awards Rising Star of the Year. He became Junior European Champion—the first British male to achieve the feat in 25 years—before adding a Junior World Championships bronze medal, another historic result. Just a week later, he made his senior Grand Prix debut in Lima, producing an outstanding performance to finish fifth and narrowly miss out on the medals, further underlining the promise he brings to the British team. He will face Faye Njie (GAM) in the Round of 64 in his opening contest.

Ben Levy (Budokwai) also competes in the -73kg category and makes his Paris Grand Slam debut following an impressive year. Levy claimed gold medals at the Warsaw European Open, Kaunas Junior European Cup and Berlin Junior European Cup, alongside a fifth-place finish at the Junior European Championships and seventh at the Junior World Championships. He made his first senior Grand Prix appearance in Lima, reaching the round of 16, before narrowly missing out on a medal with a fifth-place finish at the Zagreb Grand Prix. He will now look to test himself at Grand Slam level. He will await his opening opponent in the Round of 32.

Lachlan Moorhead (Penistone JC) will contest the -81kg division, making his third career appearance at the Paris Grand Slam. After returning from a lengthy injury lay-off in 2025, Moorhead marked his comeback with a fifth-place finish at the Skopje Senior European Cup and followed it up with bronze at the Prague European Open. He later returned to Grand Prix competition in Zagreb and Abu Dhabi and now arrives in Paris ready to step up another level. He will face Kurban Kudiev (RUS) in the Round of 64.

Ollie Barratt (Dragons Academy) will compete at -100kg in his first competitive appearance of 2026 and his first-ever Paris Grand Slam. Barratt enjoyed a strong 2025, securing gold at the Gold Coast Oceania Open, bronze at the Warsaw European Open, fifth at the Dushanbe Grand Slam and seventh at the Tallinn European Open. He will be looking to use that experience to make a strong start to the new season. He will open his campaign in the Round of 32 against Romeo Laveque (FRA).

Tatum Keen (Bradley Stoke JC) will fight at -52kg in her first outing of 2026. Keen picked up silver medals at the Warsaw and Prague European Opens last year, alongside a seventh-place finish at the Dushanbe Grand Slam. With valuable Grand Slam experience already under her belt, she will be aiming to challenge the very best in her division in Paris. She will face Kenya Perna (ITA) in the Round of 32.

Acelya Toprak (Camberley JC) goes into the -57kg category in excellent form. Her most recent results include seventh at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, fifth at the Zagreb Grand Prix, bronze at the Guadalajara Grand Prix and fifth at the Lima Grand Prix, placing her in a strong position to make a real impact this weekend. She will open her competition in the Round of 32 against Flaka Loxha (KOS).

Jemima Yeats-Brown (Stewart JA) will compete at -70kg and is no stranger to the Paris Grand Slam, having first competed at the event in 2018 and making her fourth appearance in Paris. Her best result at the competition remains a fifth-place finish in 2019. After injury troubles in 2024, Yeats-Brown returned strongly in 2025, claiming gold at the Tallinn European Open and bronze at the Prague European Open, before adding several Grand Prix appearances towards the end of the year. She will face Kaillany Cardoso (BRA) in the Round of 32.

Kelly Petersen-Pollard (Hardy Spicer 83) also enters the -70kg division, having finished fifth at the Paris Grand Slam in both 2021 and 2022. She will be looking to turn that consistency into a podium finish, following a strong 2025 that included gold at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup, silver at the Dushanbe Grand Slam, bronze at the Warsaw European Open and seventh-place finishes at the Tbilisi Grand Slam and Qingdao Grand Prix. Seeded seventh, she will open her campaign in the Round of 32 against Mayu Honda (JPN).

Emma Reid (Redbridge JC) competes at -78kg as the highest-ranked British judoka in the squad, currently sitting fifth in the world. Reid enjoyed another highly successful year in 2025, building on her World Championships bronze in 2024 and Olympic appearance. Her 2025 season included gold at the Dushanbe Grand Slam, bronze at the Qingdao Grand Prix and silver at the Upper Austria Grand Prix, and she will be looking to start 2026 strongly on the Paris stage. Seeded fifth, she will face Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko (UAE) in the Round of 32.

A great opportunity for the squad as they kick off the 2026 IJF World Tour season – good luck, team!

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