Lukáš Krpálek
Olympic champion at 100 kg and in the heavyweights
- Born
- November 15, 1990, Jihlava, Czech Republic
- Nationality
Czech Republic- Height
- 197 cm (6′6″)
- Stance
- Left
- Style
- Tactical heavyweight
- Weight
- 100 kg, +100 kg
- Active
- 2009–present
- Status
- Active · age 35
The medals
Olympic golds at 100 kg (2016) and +100 kg (2021), 2 world titles
The story
ukáš Krpálek wanted to do karate, but an uncle mixed up the sports and took him to judo in Jihlava at six. Tall, slim and awkward as a boy, he became world and European junior champion in 2008. At London 2012 he led Russia's Tagir Khaibulaev in the quarter-final but was reversed and pinned, a loss that pushed him to rebuild his standing game around grip work. He won the 2014 world title at 100 kg and Olympic gold in Rio in 2016, throwing Elmar Gasimov with ouchi gari in the final. Moving up to heavyweight, he won the 2019 world title and Olympic gold in Tokyo, joining the few judoka with Olympic titles in two weight classes. He was still competing in 2026.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion, 100 kg (2016)
- Olympic champion, +100 kg (2020)
- World champion, 100 kg (2014) and +100 kg (2019)
- European champion (2013, 2014, 2018)
- Czech Athlete of the Year (2016, 2019, 2021)
- Czech flag bearer at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024
Defining matches
- 2012LOSSvs Tagir Khaibulaev (London Olympic quarter-final; pinned after leading)
- 2014WINvs José Armenteros (World Championships 100 kg final, by pin)
- 2016WINvs Elmar Gasimov (Rio Olympic 100 kg final, ouchi gari ippon)
- 2021WINvs Guram Tushishvili (Tokyo 2020 Olympic +100 kg final)
Krpálek rebuilt his game around kumi kata after losing on the ground in 2012: win the grip exchange first, then attack. His osoto gari into harai goshi or uchi mata is a model chain, threatening backward and switching to a forward hip throw when the opponent resists.
