Xiaohongshu
Our very own TeamUCL Elite Athlete, James Wright had a summer to remember after claiming a stunning gold in the Men's Kendo Individual tournament at the European Kendo Championships!
Having been selected for Team GB for the 34th European Kendo Championships, James had high hopes for the tournament and he didn't disappoint! Taking place from 19-21 June in Podgorica, Montenegro, James had to wait until the final day to get his campaign underway.
Starting in Pool 24 of 45, he successfully defeated his first two opponents, claiming first in his pool and qualifying for the knockout stages. The pool stage marked just the start of James' journey to the title, with a further six matches taking place to claim his title!
After a gruelling day, he won the final against Luc Guadarrama of France to take gold in the Senior Men’s Individual competition and become the 2026 European Champion. This historic win means James was able to add a gold to the silver medal he achieved at the 2025 European Championships!
After a stellar summer, James has his eyes firmly focused on the 2027 Kendo World Championships in Tokyo, Japan in May, where he'll look to build upon his European results and a QF finish in the 2024 World Championships!