Czech Judo Star, 35, Aims for Fifth Olympics After LA28

Most athletes would retire after winning two Olympic gold medals, but Lukáš Krpálek isn't most athletes.

The 35-year-old Czech judo champion just launched his qualification campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. If successful, he'll become a five-time Olympian in one of the sport's most unforgiving disciplines.

Krpálek's resume reads like a judo fantasy. He won Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games in the 100kg category, then moved up to heavyweight and captured another gold in Tokyo 2020. Along the way, he collected World and European Championship titles in both weight classes, a feat almost no one has achieved.

But Paris 2024 left him hungry for more. For the first time, his family watched from the stands, and Krpálek desperately wanted to win a medal for them. Instead, his tournament ended in the second round, a rare stumble for the champion.

"Although that did not happen, the experience still gave me something very important," Krpálek told Olympics.com. "It provided me with new motivation to continue."

His journey began at London 2012, where he finished seventh at age 21. That disappointment fueled his rise. Four years later in Rio, he became the Czech Republic's first-ever Olympic judo champion.

The move to heavyweight meant challenging Teddy Riner, widely considered judo's greatest competitor. When Riner fell in a quarter-final upset at Tokyo 2020, Krpálek seized the opportunity and made history again.

Why This Inspires

At an age when most combat athletes have long retired, Krpálek is proving that persistence matters more than youth. He recently told the European Judo Union that he competes to push his limits and inspire younger athletes.

"I want to show younger athletes that success is not only about talent but about persistence and the right mindset," he said. His relationship with judo has evolved beyond competition. "Today, judo is part of who I am. It has shaped my personality, discipline and mindset."

The qualification period runs through early 2028, giving Krpálek nearly four years to earn his spot. After winning everything there is to win in judo twice over, he's chasing one more dream in Los Angeles.

Sometimes the greatest victories come from refusing to stop when the world expects you to quit.