Rustam Orujov

Rustam Orujov was born on October 4, 1991, in Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Region, Russia. He began practicing judo at the age of seven. His formative years in the Irkutsk region saw him participate in various youth competitions. At 16, Orujov relocated to Baku, Azerbaijan, where he continued his judo training at the renowned “Attila” martial arts sports club. Early in his career, at the youth level, he secured the Eurasia championship. Transitioning to senior competitions, Orujov initially competed in the 66 kg weight category. His career trajectory improved significantly after moving to the 73 kg weight category, leading to his first major senior-level successes. He demonstrated consistent performance in various international tournaments, solidifying his presence in the sport.

Orujov’s career is marked by notable achievements on both continental and global platforms. He earned an Olympic silver medal in the men’s 73 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Prior to that, in 2016, he became a European Champion, winning gold at the European Judo Championships in Kazan. His success continued with silver medals at the World Championships in 2017 (Budapest) and 2019 (Tokyo), further establishing him as a top competitor in his weight class. He also secured bronze medals at the European Championships in 2017, 2020, and 2022, and a silver medal at the 2019 European Games.

Throughout his career, Rustam Orujov has achieved significant milestones in the IJF World Tour events, including nine gold medals, seven silver medals, and sixteen bronze medals across Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and World Masters tournaments. Notably, he won gold at the IJF World Masters in Guangzhou in 2018. His contributions to Azerbaijani judo were recognized when he carried the country’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Following his competitive career, Orujov has transitioned into a leadership role, serving as the technical director for the Saudi Arabia national judo team.