Middleweight (≤90 kilograms), Men

The Japanese winning streak in the men’s events came to a halt in the middleweight class. Shoichiro Mukai did not come as one of the favourites and lost his second bout against Hungarian Krisztián Tóth by Ippon (full point). After top seed and 2021 world champion Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, representing Spain, was defeated in the quarter-final, the way was paved for another Georgian, Lasha Bekauri. Bekauri competed as a junior until 2019 and took the European title in 2021. In Tokyo, he scored victories over Uzbek Davlat Bobonov, 2014 Youth Olympic Games double gold medallist Mikhail Igolnikov, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, and, in the final, German policeman Eduard Trippel. Bobonov was penalized for a banned head dive, giving his opponent Bekauri an Ippon. The fight against Igolnikov was eventually decided by Waza-ari (half point) in his favour, although Bekauri had already two Shidos (penalties) on his account.

In the final, Bekauri scored a Waza-ari for a Tsurikomi-goshi after 1:30 min and held on to his lead until the end of the fight for gold. Seventh seed Trippel not only defeated the 2017 Serbian world champion Nemanja Majdov, but also sent fourth seed, and 2010 Youth Olympic Games medallist, Tóth into the repêchage. Trippel had contracted COVID-19 during a training camp in Georgia but the symptoms were mild and he was able to take up training immediately after being released from quarantine. Bronze medals went to Bobonov and Tóth.