Nils Stump sidelined after knee injury in Japan

Bad news coming out of the Swiss camp

World champion Nils Stump has been forced to hit pause after suffering a serious knee injury during a training camp in Japan. The 28 year old from Zurich tore the ACL in his right knee and also damaged the medial meniscus, a combination that no judoka ever wants to hear.

Stump was quickly brought back to Switzerland and underwent surgery earlier this week at the Rennbahnklinik in Muttenz. Early medical estimates point to around nine months of rehabilitation, which means a long spell away from the IJF World Tour and most of the upcoming season written off.

The timing hurts, no question about it. But this is not a career ending blow. Olympic qualification is still a long road, and with more than a year to go, the door to a third Olympic appearance is very much still open.

He has been here before

If there is one thing Stump has already proven, it is that he knows how to come back. At the end of 2023, a shoulder injury stalled his momentum and raised a few eyebrows. The response was emphatic. He returned stronger, sharper and straight back into medal form the following season. That experience now becomes crucial as he starts another long rehab process.

And let us not forget who we are talking about. In 2023, Stump climbed to the very top of the sport by winning the World Championships in Doha, delivering Switzerland its first ever senior world title in judo. The final against Italy’s Manuel Lombardo went deep into Golden Score before ending with hansoku make after a failed head dive seoi nage. Historic moment. No debate.

Built on consistency, not hype

That world title was not a one off. It capped a season where Stump was relentlessly consistent against the very best. He added Grand Slam gold in Tel Aviv and confirmed his place among the elite in the division.

His rise was steady and earned the hard way. Junior European bronze in Malaga back in 2016. Senior European bronze in Lisbon in 2021. Then came the real breakthrough in 2022 with wins at the European Opens in Madrid and Oberwart, followed by Grand Slam gold in Abu Dhabi. A venue that, as it turns out, suits him just fine.

The success kept rolling. Grand Slam gold in Dushanbe in 2024. And even in the early months of 2025, before the injury struck, Stump was right there again. European Cup winner in Dubrovnik. Bronze at the Grand Prix in Lima. Another Grand Slam title in Abu Dhabi. Consistency across continents, across seasons.

Now it is about patience

This knee injury is the second major interruption in just over two years, but nothing about Stump’s career suggests fragility. Quite the opposite. World Championship medals, multiple Grand Slam titles and a proven ability to rebuild all point to a fighter who knows how to play the long game.

For now, the competition calendar is replaced by rehab schedules. No World Tour, no Grand Prix in Lausanne in August, no rushing back. Swiss judo will miss its biggest name on the circuit, and Stump will have to watch from the sidelines for a while.

Currently sitting at number six in the IJF World Ranking in his weight category, his focus is clear. Heal properly. Build patiently. Come back ready.

If history is any guide, when Nils Stump returns, he will not be coming back quietly.

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