Diyora Keldiyorova: A golden legacy for Uzbekistan and women in judo

Most judoka would consider their Olympic dreams dashed if they saw themselves drawn against Japan's Abe Uta in the second round of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Abe, a four-time consecutive world champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist in the women's -52kg category, had been undefeated on the world stage since 2019. For many, facing her would have been the end of the road in the quest for gold.

But not for Uzbekistan’s Diyora Keldiyorova.

With a performance that sent shockwaves through the judo world, Keldiyorova's path to becoming Uzbekistan’s first Olympic judo champion broke barriers and redefined what’s possible for women in sport.

Beginning in judo: a tale of firsts

Keldiyorova stepped onto the tatami for the first time at just six years old, driven by the unfulfilled dreams of her grandmother, a woman who had once yearned for an athletic career but was never afforded the chance. It was her grandmother’s encouragement that led Diyora to don her first judogi, setting her firmly on a path to greatness both within and beyond the world of judo.

"She taught me some of life’s most important lessons," Keldiyorova shared about her late grandmother. "She’s my hero."

Diyora's career was marked by a series of historic firsts. At age 15, she made history by winning Uzbekistan’s first-ever world title in judo, striking gold at the Cadet World Championships in Sarajevo in 2015. As she advanced to the senior level, she claimed five prestigious Grand Slam titles and three Asian Championships, among other medals.

Marko Spittka, the team's sport director, vividly remembers the first time he laid eyes on the Uzbek star. "That young lady is incredible," he thought, captivated by her presence and raw talent.

Their collaboration would soon yield impressive results. "We found solutions for everyone she faced—Krasniqi, Pupp, Giuffrida. Not for Abe yet, but maybe in the future," Spittka hinted in an interview one year before Paris 2024.

And solutions they found.

In 2023, Keldiyorova became the first Uzbek woman to win a World Judo Championships medal, taking silver after a loss to Abe in the final. In 2024, she repeated the feat, this time falling to Italy's Odette Giuffrida.

Yet, after the loss, her words revealed her unshakable belief: "I can do it in Paris."

Paris 2024: dethroning the Olympic champion

Fast forward to 28 July, 2024. As the sun rose over the Eiffel Tower, the Champ du Mars Arena stood in its shadow, alive with anticipation and ready to host the thrilling events that lay ahead. Diyora Keldiyorova found herself on the brink of history. With Uzbekistan still seeking its first medal of Paris 2024, the pressure was mounting, and the hopes of the nation rested squarely on her shoulders.

Round one was a bye, keeping her fresh for the challenge ahead. But the entire judo world watched round two as she was set to face Japan's Abe, the undisputed queen of the -52kg category.

This showdown could have easily been the final at these Olympic Games, but the draw had other ideas. Despite Abe’s dominance and unmatched record, her limited competition schedule left her unseeded among the top eight. A cruel twist for the division's top contenders, any of whom could have faced the world’s most feared judoka in the early rounds.

Keldiyorova had fought Abe only twice before on the world stage, coming up short both times. But in Paris, she came with solutions.

Abe controlled the first half of the fight with her signature strength and precision, securing a waza-ari that put herself in the lead. With two penalties against her and the score slipping away, Keldiyorova needed to do something miraculous to turn the tide.

Then, in an instant, the match changed.

Out of nowhere, Keldiyorova exploded with a lightning-fast ippon, sending Abe crashing to the tatami in a breathtaking reversal. The once-unbeatable Japanese fighter was down, defeated in a stunning upset that left the world in awe.

"The first two minutes were for Abe, but we worked on that final technique for over six months," Spittka explained. "Diyora found that solution on the left side."

Despite having conquered the giant of her division, Keldiyorova remained composed. There was no wild celebration, just the quiet, dignified grace of a true warrior. "Respect is my favorite judo value. No matter if we win or lose, we always respect each other," Keldiyorova said.

The crowd, aware they had witnessed something historic, erupted in support, both for Keldiyorova’s triumph and for the heartbroken Abe. They chanted "Uta, Uta, Uta" as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion made her way out of the arena, head heavy.

Keldiyorova adds two more firsts

The Uzbek advanced through the rounds with unwavering focus, each victory bringing her closer to the ultimate goal. A crucial win over French home favorite and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Amandine Buchard earned Keldiyorova a spot in her first Olympic final, where she would face yet another reigning champion: Kosovo's 48kg Olympic gold medalist, Distria Krasniqi.

She snuck underneath the Kosovan to throw her for waza-ari, a score that would secure her the Olympic title.

With this win, Keldiyorova added two more historic firsts to her resume: the first Olympic judo title for Uzbekistan and the first Olympic medal won by an Uzbek woman in any summer sport.

"This wasn’t a dream, it was a goal," she reflected after winning the Olympic gold. "I always believed it was possible, but I just worked step by step."

As the gold medal was placed around her neck, the emotions finally came flooding out. It was a moment of both personal success as well as a victory for her entire nation.

On the podium, Keldiyorova’s thoughts turned to her grandmother. “That’s why I was crying during the medal ceremony. She died 10 years ago, but I know she is always with me. I wish she had seen this fight. She would be proud; it's all because of her," Keldiyorova said softly.

Diyora Keldiyorova: “For women, the impossible is possible”

In Uzbekistan, where judo and sport have long been male-dominated, Keldiyorova’s Olympic gold redefined what young girls can envision for themselves. As Spittka shared in an interview with the IJF, "Now we have new generations of women coming through who see that marriage is not the only option...Women are beginning to get jobs and have their own money. Especially in the countryside, it’s not easy to get to that point, but it’s happening."

The 26-year-old herself embodies the balance between tradition and modernity. A married woman, she honors her cultural roots while also breaking free from societal expectations. "I am married, and normally in Uzbekistan, a married woman is only at home, no more sport, but my husband supports me one hundred percent," she said.

Backed by the unwavering support of her husband, fellow judoka Azamat Matyakubov, Keldiyorova has boldly challenged societal expectations. "Men still come to ask me why I’m in judo," the Olympic champion shared. "They say we can’t do anything in sport and that I should cook and have a family. But this always gives me motivation."

The impact of Azamat's encouragement has not gone unnoticed either. "Opinions are changing so much and so fast that now we often hear, ‘he is the best man in the world to support her,’" she said.

Her triumphs have also shifted perspectives within the judo community itself. "The men in the team respect it and accept it," Spittka said. "Now they have good results too. The sports leaders of the country now accept that medals are medals regardless of gender or age, and so investment has become more equal."

Keldiyorova’s success has opened doors for women in Uzbekistan, showing that tradition and world-class athleticism can coexist.

“I can tell other women, if you want it, you can do anything. For women, the impossible is possible.”

In many ways, her name foretold her path. Diyora, derived from the word ‘Diyar,’ means ‘blessing,’ and she has become just that for her sport, her country, and women worldwide.