Hidayat Heydarov Azerbaijani judoka Date of Birth: 27.07.1997 Country: Azerbaijan

1. Heydarov's Early Life and Introduction to Judo
2. Rise to Prominence
3. Junior Success and International Breakthrough
4. Debut at World Championships and European Glory
5. Consistent Performance and Olympic Medals
6. Pre-Olympic Success and Gold Medal Glory
7. Olympic Triumph and History-Making Moment

Heydarov's Early Life and Introduction to Judo

Heydarov was born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, on July 27, 1997. His family, originally from the village of Alxasava in the Goychay region, moved to Baku when Heydarov was three years old. At age six, Heydarov's father enrolled him in the judo section of the Specialized Children and Youth Sports School No. 13, located near the Neftchilar metro station. Tarlan Gasanov, who remains his coach today, became his first mentor.

Rise to Prominence

In 2012, Heydarov earned a bronze medal at the Azerbaijan Junior Championships. He went on to win European championships in the under-60kg and under-66kg weight categories in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In 2013, he claimed the Azerbaijan Judo Championship title.

Junior Success and International Breakthrough

Heydarov's international dominance began in 2015 when he became the World Junior Champion in Abu Dhabi. The following year, he won the European Junior Championships in Malaga and the European Cup in Orenburg.

In 2017, Heydarov secured bronze at the Paris Grand Slam. He made history by becoming the European Judo Champion in the under-73kg weight class, defeating Musa Mogushkov of Russia in the final. Heydarov notably won all four European titles, earning him the distinction as the European Judo Union's Best Young Judoist. He also triumphed at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in the under-73kg category.

Debut at World Championships and European Glory

At the 2017 World Championships, Heydarov's debut, he reached the semifinals but lost to Japan's Soichi Hashimoto. His subsequent match against Odbayar Ganbaatar of Mongolia also resulted in defeat, placing him in fifth place. However, he redeemed himself by winning the U-21 World Junior Championships in Zagreb, defeating Bilal Ciloglu of Turkey in the final.

Consistent Performance and Olympic Medals

Heydarov continued his impressive run with a silver medal at the 2018 European Championships and a bronze medal at the World Championships held in Azerbaijan. At the 2019 European Games, he claimed another bronze medal, overcoming challenges from Ferdinand Karapetyan of Armenia and 2012 Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia.

At the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, Heydarov secured a third bronze medal, defeating Behruz Khojazoda of Tajikistan in the third-place match.

Pre-Olympic Success and Gold Medal Glory

In 2023, Heydarov added a bronze medal to his collection at the European Open in Pristina, Kosovo. At the 2024 Grand Slam in Baku, he earned a gold medal.

The 2024 World Championships in the United Arab Emirates proved to be a pivotal moment for Heydarov. He emerged victorious, defeating Tatsuki Ishihara of Japan in the final.

Olympic Triumph and History-Making Moment

Heydarov made his Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games. Demonstrating exceptional talent and determination, he defeated all his opponents to become the Olympic champion. In the final, he delivered an impressive ippon throw to overcome the home favorite, French judoka Joan-Benjamin Gaba. Heydarov's gold medal marked Azerbaijan's first Olympic gold in judo in 16 years and the 50th and eighth gold medal for the independent nation. He also became the first Azerbaijani athlete to win the European Championships, World Championships, and Olympics in the same year. Overall, he became the fourth Azerbaijani athlete to win all three major titles in their career, joining Zemfira Meftahetdinova, Sharif Sharifov, and Radik Isaev.

In recognition of his extraordinary achievements, Heydarov was awarded the "Glory" Order by President Ilham Aliyev on August 13, 2024.