Slovenia’s judo star says her heart is no longer in fight
Slovenian judoka Andreja Leški, the Olympic champion in the women's 63 kg category in Paris in 2024, is calling it a career.
The 29-year-old bid competitive sport farewell in front of home fans at a major international judo tournament in Ljubljana after a hiatus made her realise that her heart was no longer in the fight, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
After announcing the end of her career at Ljubljana European Open 2026 in an emotional appearance, Leški told the Slovenian Press Agency that while she had initially toyed with the idea of chasing the one title she lacks, that of world champion, she ultimately realised that her heart was no longer in it.
She found that the immense time and effort demanded by judo had begun to outweigh the rewards and the "fairytale ending in Paris" made the final decision easier.
Despite feeling pressure to chase World Championship gold after claiming two silvers to complete her collection, she realised she could not continue with her career just to satisfy others' expectations.
Addressing the expectations of fans and sponsors, Leški stressed that athletes are "just people" and that the sport will simply move forward with new talent. Unlike some athletes who feel a sense of emptiness after reaching their peak, she does not feel a void as her identity has never been tied solely to competitive sport.
The Koper native is a graduate of the Ljubljana School of Economics and Business and an avid motorcyclist. She is also pursuing an MA degree in sports management.
Reflecting on the grittier reality of elite judo, Leški highlighted the unseen struggles, describing the constant weight cutting for competitions as "truly horrifying at times". Her advice for young athletes is to always have a plan B because injuries or other issues can happen.
The plan now is to leverage her platform to inspire others
Looking ahead, she plans to leverage her platform as an Olympic champion to work as a mentor and speaker.
Leški, who is openly gay, had a hiatus from judo tournaments in 2025. She made her last competitive appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, winning the gold-medal match against Prisca Awiti Alcaraz of Mexico in a dominant fashion. She also defeated the top contender for Olympic gold and one of the best judokas of the past decade, France's Clarisse Agbegnenou, in the sold-out semi-final.
The Slovenian won two silver medals at the world championships, in 2021 and 2023. She won the gold medal at the 2023 European championships, and the bronze medal two times, in 2021 and in 2024.
As part of the IJF World Tour, Leški stood on the podium 24 times, and scored four wins. She also claimed three victories at IJF Grand Prix tournaments.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
