Tina Trstenjak (born 24 August 1990) is a Slovenian Judoka. She is one of the successful judoists from Marjan Fabjan’s school or his club Judo Club Z’ land Sankaku Celje. Like her club colleagues Urška Žolnir and Lucija Polavder, Tina has been awarded numerous medals in the most powerful judo competitions. She competes in the category of up to 63 kg.
Tina Trstenjak achieved her first international success in 2013, when she won a bronze medal in the 63 kg category at the European Championships. The following year, she won the European Vice-Champions and also a bronze medal at the World Championships. Tina continued her impressive performance by winning a silver medal at the 2015 European Games. However, her crowning achievement came in 2016 when she became the first Slovenian judoka to win the world title.
In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Tina Trstenjak showed her immense talent and determination by winning the Olympic gold medal. In the final match of the 63 kg category, she defeated Frenchwoman Clarisse Agbegnenou. This victory not only brought her the Olympic gold but also established her as a force to be reckoned with in the world of judo.
Even after her Olympic triumph, Tina Trstenjak did not rest on her laurels. In December 2016, she won a bronze medal at the Japanese Grand Prix in Tokyo. Despite a setback in the quarter-finals, she fought back to win the next two matches and secure the bronze medal. Her outstanding performance in 2016 was recognized by the Slovenian Olympic Committee, as she was named the Slovenian Athlete of the Year.
The following year, Tina Trstenjak continued to impress. She was awarded the Bloudkov Award for Top International Sports Achievement in 2017. In January, she received the 2016 Judoist Award by the Slovenian Olympic Committee for her outstanding achievements the previous year. She also received the Best by Category award from the International Judo Federation, a testament to her skills and dominance in her weight category.
In February, Tina participated in the Judo Grand Slam in Paris. She displayed her exceptional talent by winning all her fights and emerging as the tournament’s winner. In the final, she faced Clarisse Agbegnenou once again and defeated her with an ippon, replicating her victory from the Olympic final.
Continuing her streak of success, Tina Trstenjak secured a bronze medal at the Grand Prix in Düsseldorf in February. Despite losing one match, she won three fights, defeating British woman Lucy Renshaw in the battle for bronze.
In April, she became the European Champion for the second consecutive time at the European Championships in Warsaw. In a hard-fought final, she defeated Frenchwoman Margaux Pinot after an overtime fight ended with a penalty in Trstenjak’s favor. She successfully defended her title from the previous European Championships in Kazan.
In August, Tina competed at the World Championships in Budapest, despite carrying an injured leg. She once again reached the final, where she faced Clarisse Agbegnenou. Although she fell short of the gold medal, her silver medal performance demonstrated her perseverance and skill.
Tina Trstenjak’s impressive career and achievements have established her as one of the most successful and influential judoists in Slovenian and international judo history. Her dedication to the sport and her continuous pursuit of excellence have inspired many aspiring judo athletes, especially women, to follow in her footsteps.
Awards:
– Olympic gold medal, 2016 Summer Olympics
– Bloudkov Award for Top International Sports Achievement, 2017
– 2016 Judoist Award by the Slovenian Olympic Committee
– Best by Category award from the International Judo Federation