British Judo is proud to announce that rising star Irakli Goginashvili, from the Newham area of East London and training at Palavani Judo Club in Canning Town, has been named a finalist for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award. Since its launch in 2006, the award has celebrated the UK’s most exciting young sporting talents, many of whom have gone on to achieve incredible Olympic success.
SportsAid is unveiling its ten shortlisted athletes across its social media channels throughout the week, and British Judo is delighted to confirm that Goginashvili has earned his place among this elite selection.
The One-to-Watch Award has long been recognised as a reliable indicator of future sporting success. Each nominee is put forward by their sport’s national governing body, based on exceptional performance, potential, and broader impact within their discipline.
Selected from a pool of around 1,000 promising British athletes spanning more than 60 sports, the shortlist highlights individuals who have demonstrated remarkable talent, dedication, and ambition. Past winners include household names such as Tom Daley OBE, Hollie Arnold MBE, Jodie Williams, Courtney Tulloch, Amber Rutter, Emma Wilson, and Alex Yee MBE—athletes who have collectively amassed more than 130 senior medals at Olympic and Paralympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
Goginashvili’s 2025 season has been nothing short of exceptional, firmly establishing him as one of British Judo’s most exciting rising talents—and now, as one of the standout young athletes across all of British sport.
His landmark performance came at the Junior European Championships, where he captured gold and the continental title, becoming the first British male judoka in 25 years to top the podium at the event. He followed this with a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, marking the first British male medal at the competition in 14 years.
His success continued throughout the season with gold medals at the Birmingham, Prague, and Poznań Junior European Cups, as well as bronze medals at the Málaga Junior and Poznań Senior European Cups. Most recently, he delivered an impressive 5th-place finish at the Lima Grand Prix—an exceptional result for his first Grand Prix appearance. Even at just 19 years old, Goginashvili is already proving himself a serious contender on the senior international circuit.
SportsAid will announce the top three finalists for the One-to-Watch Award in December.