When to watch judo during the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games
Judo events will be held from Thursday, Sept. 5 to Saturday, Sept. 7 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Judokas competing at the Paralympics all have a form of vision impairment. Athletes are classified based on their level of impairment, with two separate sight classes (J1, J2) competing for medals within each weight class.
One rule for judo at the Paralympics which differs from the Olympics is that athletes must hold their competition’s judogi (judo suit) for the entirety of the bout. The rest of the rules remain the same.
Throws and pinning holds are the techniques used to win a bout. Throwing an opponent onto their back with strength and control, known as an ippon, will result in an instant victory. Submission holds or pinning an opponent to the ground for 20 seconds also results in a win.
Classifications
| J1 | Athletes have little measurable vision, light perception, or no light perception |
| J2 | Athletes have reduced clarity, quality, and amount of vision and/or a restricted field of vision |
Events
- Women's 48kg
- Women's 57kg
- Women's 70kg
- Women's 70+kg
- Men's 60kg
- Men's 73kg
- Men's 90kg
- Men's 90+kg
Each weight class has separate events for J1 and J2.
Venue
The Paralympic judo competition will be held within the host city, steps away from the Eiffel Tower, inside the Champ de Mars Arena. This temporary structure was set up on the Champ de Mars in 2021 for use as a venue for art, fashion and sports while Paris’s iconic Grand Palais undergoes renovations.
Competition Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (ET) |
| Thur, Sept. 5 | Prelims | 4-7a |
| Finals | 10a-1p | |
| Fri, Sept. 6 | Prelims | 4-7a |
| Finals | 10a-1p | |
| Sat, Sept. 7 | Prelims | 4-7a |
| Finals | 9:30a-1p |
Team USA: Para judo athletes to watch
Liana Mutia, 25, has emerged as one of the top judokas in the women's 57kg J1 class. Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, she won back-to-back bronze medals at the world championships in 2022 and 2023. Off the tatami, Mutia works as a software analyst for Comcast, where she advises engineering, quality assurance and development teams on providing an inclusive, accessible experience for all users.
Another medal hopeful, 45-year-old Christella Garcia, is returning to the Paralympics for the first time since winning bronze in 2016. Garcia, who first competed at London 2012, is ranked No. 4 in the women's 70+kg J1 class.