World Ranking Leader U70kg Lara Cvjetko

Lara Cvjetko has established herself as one of the most consistent competitors in the U70kg division and finished 2025 as the leader of the IJF World Ranking. The Croatian judoka has built her rise through steady progress from the cadet level to the very top of the senior circuit.

Her early success already hinted at a bright future. Cvjetko became European Cadet Champion in 2017 and later collected silver medals at both the European Juniors in 2021 and the Junior World Championships. She also captured the European U23 title in 2020 in Poreč, confirming her position as one of Croatia’s most promising talents.

At senior level her results quickly followed. Cvjetko won the Grand Prix in Zagreb in 2023 and collected several podium finishes on the IJF World Tour, including Grand Slam bronze medals in Abu Dhabi, Tokyo and Baku. In 2025 she added major victories with gold at the Grand Slam in Dushanbe and Grand Prix titles in Qingdao and Guadalajara.

Her biggest achievements came on the world stage. Cvjetko secured silver medals at the World Championships in Tashkent in 2022 and again in Budapest in 2025, while also taking bronze at the European Championships in Podgorica the same year.

That European bronze proved especially meaningful. After a difficult start to the season, the medal restored her confidence and shortly afterwards she learned that she had climbed to number one in the world ranking. For Cvjetko, however, the ranking is only motivation.

She continues to train in Solin under coach Dragan Crnov and remains focused on improving every aspect of her judo. Her ultimate goal remains clear: a world title and an Olympic medal for Croatia.

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