Lytvynenko: Team Spirit and Positive Energy Driving Success

Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko (UAE) has become one of the most recognisable athletes on the World Judo Tour. Regularly appearing in final blocks and consistently delivering strong performances, she has earned a reputation as a judoka who always gives everything on the tatami while showcasing technically impressive and attractive judo. Watching her compete has become a pleasure for judo fans around the world.

At only 22 years of age, Lytvynenko has already built an impressive list of achievements. Her rise began in 2021 when she captured the European Cadet title at just 16 years old. However, it was during 2022 that her career truly accelerated towards the highest level of international competition. Within a matter of months, she claimed gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival before following it up with a senior world bronze medal at the World Championships in Tashkent.

Her progress continued at an extraordinary pace. At just 20 years old, she qualified for her first Olympic Games and arrived in Paris determined to make her mark on the biggest stage in sport. A seventh-place finish confirmed her potential and highlighted a future that remains exceptionally promising.

Today, Lytvynenko can be found in the warm-up area of the Qasri Tennis Complex, preparing for another important challenge at the Dushanbe Grand Slam. Entering the event as the number one seed, she is aiming to secure the tenth World Judo Tour medal of her career. Based on both recent form and previous results, she appears well positioned to achieve that goal.

With such rapid success already behind her, it is natural to wonder how her sporting journey began. The paths taken by elite judoka are often fascinating and can reveal surprising beginnings.

“I actually started as a diver when I was eight years old,” Lytvynenko explained. “I come from the small Ukrainian city of Pokrov, where there were not many sporting opportunities available. After some time in diving, my father suggested that I try judo, so I decided to give it a chance.”

The transition proved to be life-changing.

“Judo taught me real discipline. The level of discipline required was completely different from what I experienced in diving. In judo, you have to take every aspect seriously.”

Those demands extend far beyond technical training. Nutrition, hydration, physical conditioning, recovery and mental preparation all play critical roles in the daily life of a high-performance judoka. Managing those elements successfully is part of what has allowed Lytvynenko to establish herself among the sport’s elite competitors.

For the Ukrainian-born athlete representing the UAE, however, one factor stands above all others when it comes to performance.

“For me, the most important thing is having a good mood and feeling happy. When there is a positive atmosphere and strong team spirit around me, I always want to train and compete. Right now, I really enjoy the environment within my team. I enjoy the competitions and the overall judo atmosphere that surrounds me. I’m always happy when I’m with my teammates, and that is a huge source of motivation for me to keep improving and performing well.”

Supported by her UAE teammates and inspired by the welcoming atmosphere in Dushanbe, Lytvynenko looks set to enjoy another valuable experience on the World Judo Tour. Each competition represents another step towards her long-term ambitions and another opportunity to continue her development.

Still only at the beginning of her senior career, Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko is rapidly establishing herself as one of the brightest talents in international judo and a future star of the elite circuit.