1. Overview
Rustam Orujov (Rüstəm Fəzail oğlu OrucovRustam Fazail oglu OrujovAzerbaijani, born October 4, 1991) is a retired Azerbaijani judoka. Born in Ust-Ilimsk, Russia, Orujov moved to Azerbaijan with his family at the age of 14, where he continued his judo training. He competed in the men's 161 lb (73 kg) category. His career highlights include winning a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and two silver medals at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019. He also secured a gold medal at the 2016 European Championships and the 2018 World Masters. Orujov was chosen as a flagbearer for Azerbaijan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He announced his retirement from competitive judo in August 2023.
2. Life and Background
Rustam Orujov was born on October 4, 1991, in Ust-Ilimsk, a city in the Irkutsk Oblast of the then Soviet Union, now part of Russia. He was born to an Azerbaijani father and a Russian mother. His family later relocated to Baku, Azerbaijan, a significant move that shaped his early judo journey. He is approximately 5.9 ft (1.8 m) tall.
2.1. Childhood and Early Judo Training
Orujov's introduction to sports began at the age of seven, when he initially took up chess. However, it was judo that captured his interest from the age of eight. He spent his childhood and early teenage years in the Irkutsk region, competing in various youth judo competitions. When he was 14 years old, his family moved to Baku, Azerbaijan. Upon arriving in Baku, he continued his judo training at the renowned "Attila" martial arts sports club, further developing his skills. During his youth career, he achieved success by winning the Eurasia championship, though he did not secure a continental championship at that level. Orujov initially competed in the 146 lb (66 kg) weight category before finding greater success after transitioning to the 161 lb (73 kg) category.
3. Senior Competitive Career
Rustam Orujov's professional international judo career began to flourish in the early 2010s, marked by a steady ascent through the ranks of elite judoka. He achieved significant milestones across various international competitions, culminating in Olympic and World Championship medals.
3.1. Early Years and Rise (2011-2015)
Orujov made his debut in senior competitions in 2011. In June of that year, he secured a second-place finish at the European Cup held in Celje, Slovenia. In October 2011, he transitioned to the 161 lb (73 kg) weight category for the first time at the Judo World Cup in Baku, where he earned a third-place medal. His performance at the Grand Prix in Düsseldorf, Germany, in February 2012, where he placed fifth, was crucial for him to accumulate points towards his Olympic qualification. He ultimately secured his spot at the 2012 Summer Olympics through a continental quota from the European Judo Union. In May 2012, Orujov won his first major senior gold medal at the Grand Prix Baku.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Orujov progressed to the third round after defeating Gideon van Zyl of South Africa in the second round. However, he was subsequently eliminated by Mansur Isaev of Russia, who went on to win the gold medal in the event.
After completing his mandatory military service in Azerbaijan, Orujov returned to competition in 2013, participating in the Grand Prix of Samsun, Turkey, where he experienced an early defeat, attributed to a lack of sufficient training. Despite this setback, he quickly recovered his form, winning the Grand Slam Baku tournament in May 2013. In 2014, he claimed a silver medal at the Grand Prix Samsun. That same year, at the World Championships, he reached the quarterfinals but was defeated by Japanese judoka Riki Nakaya due to three penalties, finishing in seventh place. He also earned bronze medals at the Grand Slam Baku and Grand Slam Abu Dhabi, and a bronze at the Grand Prix Jeju. His 2014 season also included a fifth-place finish at the European Judo Championships and the Grand Slam Tokyo.
The year 2015 proved to be a period of significant achievement for Orujov. He secured gold medals at the Grand Prix events in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Samsun, Turkey, as well as another gold at the Grand Slam Baku. His consistent performance led him to win a bronze medal at the World Masters in Rabat, Morocco. These results propelled him to the top of the world ranking for his weight category on May 25, 2015. Despite his strong performance, he did not participate in the 2015 World Judo Championships. He concluded 2015 with a silver medal at the Grand Slam Paris and the Grand Prix Qingdao, along with another bronze at the Grand Prix Jeju.
3.2. Olympic Success and World Championships (2016-2019)
The period between 2016 and 2019 marked the pinnacle of Rustam Orujov's competitive career, highlighted by an Olympic medal and multiple World Championship podium finishes. In 2016, he became the European Champion in Kazan, Russia. He also continued his success on the IJF World Tour, winning gold at the Grand Prix Havana and silver at the Grand Prix Düsseldorf, while also earning bronze medals at the Grand Slam Baku and the World Masters in Guadalajara, Mexico. He also secured a silver medal at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
The defining moment of 2016 for Orujov was his performance at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Representing Azerbaijan in the 161 lb (73 kg) category, he reached the final, where he faced Japanese judoka Shohei Ono. Orujov ultimately secured a silver medal after being defeated by Ono, who scored a waza-ari with an `Uchi Mata` (inner thigh throw) followed by an `Ouchi Gari` (major inner reap) for an `ippon` (full point). Following his Olympic achievement, on September 1, 2016, he was awarded the Order "For Service to the Fatherland III degree" by the President of Azerbaijan.
In 2017, Orujov continued his strong showing at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where he earned another silver medal in the -161 lb (73 kg) category. In the semifinals, he achieved a decisive come-from-behind `ippon` victory against Korean judoka An Chang-rim with a `Harai Makikomi` (hip sweep wrap-around throw). In the final, he faced Japanese judoka Soichi Hashimoto. Orujov initially held a lead with one penalty against his opponent but ultimately lost in Golden Score after Hashimoto scored a `waza-ari` with a `Tai Otoshi` (body drop). That same year, he earned a bronze medal at the European Championships in Warsaw, Poland, and secured a team gold and individual silver medal at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku. He also won gold at the Grand Prix Zagreb and two bronze medals at the Grand Slam Baku and Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
The 2018 season saw Orujov win silver at the Grand Slam Düsseldorf, again losing to Shohei Ono by `Uchi Mata` in the final. He also secured a bronze medal at the Grand Prix Zagreb. Later that year, he achieved a significant victory, winning the gold medal at the World Masters in Guangzhou, China. However, he suffered an early exit at the World Championships held in his home city of Baku, where he was defeated in the fourth round.
In 2019, Orujov reached the final of the World Championships in Tokyo, securing his second consecutive silver medal at the event. In the semifinal, he defeated his compatriot Hidayat Heydarov by `waza-ari`. The final was a rematch against Shohei Ono, where Orujov again lost by `Uchi Mata`. During this match, Orujov attempted to appeal a perceived illegal sleeve grip by Ono, but his protest was not recognized by the referees. He also won a silver medal at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus, and secured bronze medals at the Grand Slam Düsseldorf, Grand Slam Baku, and the World Masters in Qingdao, China. Additionally, he won silver at the Grand Prix Antalya and placed fifth at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
3.3. Later Career and Retirement (2020-2023)
Rustam Orujov continued to compete internationally from 2020 until his retirement in 2023. In 2020, he won a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Düsseldorf and a gold medal at the Grand Slam Budapest. He also added another bronze medal to his collection at the European Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.
In 2021, Orujov was forced to miss the European Championships due to testing positive for COVID-19. However, he returned to competition to win a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Tashkent. He competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed to 2021. In the quarterfinals, he once again faced Shohei Ono, losing by `ippon` after Ono scored a `waza-ari` with `Uchi Mata` followed by `Kouchi Gari`. Orujov appealed for a "head diving" foul during this match, but the referee's decision stood. He then advanced to the bronze medal match, where he was defeated by An Chang-rim by `waza-ari`, ultimately finishing in fifth place and missing out on a medal.
In 2022, Orujov earned another bronze medal at the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, and a bronze at the Grand Slam Budapest.
In August 2023, Rustam Orujov officially announced his retirement from competitive judo, concluding a distinguished career that spanned over a decade at the international level.
4. Major Achievements and Awards
Rustam Orujov's career was marked by numerous significant medals and honors across various prestigious judo competitions.
| Competition | Year | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 2016 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| World Championships | 2017 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| World Championships | 2019 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| European Championships | 2016 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Gold |
| European Championships | 2016 | Men's Team | Bronze |
| European Championships | 2017 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| European Championships | 2020 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| European Championships | 2022 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| European Games | 2019 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| World Masters | 2015 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| World Masters | 2016 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| World Masters | 2018 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Gold |
| World Masters | 2019 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2013 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Gold |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2014 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2015 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Gold |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2016 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2017 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Baku | 2019 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Paris | 2015 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| Grand Slam Abu Dhabi | 2014 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Abu Dhabi | 2016 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| Grand Slam Abu Dhabi | 2017 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 2018 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
| Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 2019 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Düsseldorf | 2020 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Budapest | 2020 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Gold |
| Grand Slam Budapest | 2022 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| Grand Slam Tashkent | 2021 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Bronze |
| IJF Grand Prix | 2012 | Grand Prix Baku | Gold |
| Grand Prix | 2014 | Grand Prix Samsun | Silver |
| Grand Prix | 2014 | Grand Prix Jeju | Bronze |
| Grand Prix | 2015 | Grand Prix Tbilisi | Gold |
| Grand Prix | 2015 | Grand Prix Samsun | Gold |
| Grand Prix | 2015 | Grand Prix Qingdao | Silver |
| Grand Prix | 2015 | Grand Prix Jeju | Bronze |
| Grand Prix | 2016 | Grand Prix Havana | Gold |
| Grand Prix | 2016 | Grand Prix Düsseldorf | Silver |
| Grand Prix | 2017 | Grand Prix Zagreb | Gold |
| Grand Prix | 2018 | Grand Prix Zagreb | Bronze |
| Grand Prix | 2019 | Grand Prix Antalya | Silver |
| Islamic Solidarity Games | 2017 | Men's Team | Gold |
| Islamic Solidarity Games | 2017 | -161 lb (73 kg) | Silver |
Additionally, Rustam Orujov was recognized for his contributions to sports in Azerbaijan when he was awarded the Order "For Service to the Fatherland III degree" by the President of Azerbaijan on September 1, 2016, following his silver medal win at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
5. Playing Style and Characteristics
Rustam Orujov was known for his distinctive and effective judo style, characterized by his strategic approach and proficiency in various techniques. Competing primarily in the 161 lb (73 kg) category, he developed a reputation for strong throwing techniques and tactical prowess. His matches often featured dynamic exchanges, reflecting his aggressive yet calculated fighting style. Some of his notable techniques included `Uchi Mata` (inner thigh throw), `Kouchi Gari` (minor inner reap), `Harai Makikomi` (hip sweep wrap-around throw), and `Tai Otoshi`` (body drop). He demonstrated the ability to adapt his strategies against different opponents, often seeking opportune moments for decisive throws or counter-attacks.
6. Flagbearer Role
Rustam Orujov had the honor of serving as the flagbearer for Azerbaijan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. This symbolic role took place during the opening ceremonies of the Games, where he led the Azerbaijani delegation. He succeeded Teymur Mammadov, who had been the flagbearer in previous Olympic events. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, he shared the flagbearer duty with fellow Azerbaijani athlete Faridə Əzizova.
7. Legacy and Retirement
Rustam Orujov's retirement in August 2023 marked the end of a remarkable career that left a significant impact on Azerbaijani and international judo. His consistent performance at the highest levels of the sport, including multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, cemented his status as one of Azerbaijan's most successful judoka.
7.1. Historical Evaluation
Orujov's career is historically significant for several reasons. His silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics was a major achievement for Azerbaijan in judo, and his two silver medals at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019 further solidified his position among the world's elite. He consistently challenged top-tier opponents, including formidable Japanese judoka like Shohei Ono, contributing to some of the most memorable and highly anticipated matches in the 161 lb (73 kg) category. His dedication and achievements served as an inspiration for aspiring judoka in Azerbaijan and beyond, contributing to the sport's popularity in his home country. His consistent presence on the podium at various Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and World Masters events over many years showcased his remarkable durability and competitive spirit.
7.2. Controversies during Matches
Throughout his career, Rustam Orujov was involved in a few notable instances of disputed referee decisions during high-stakes matches, which garnered attention within the judo community.
One such incident occurred during the final of the 2019 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, where Orujov faced Shohei Ono. After Ono executed an `Uchi Mata` that secured him the `ippon` and the gold medal, Orujov immediately protested, claiming that Ono had illegally gripped his sleeve (a `sode-tsuri-komi-goshi` grip that can be deemed illegal if not executed properly within the rules). Despite Orujov's appeal, the referee's decision stood, and the win was confirmed for Ono.
Another controversial moment took place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) during his quarterfinal match, again against Shohei Ono. In this bout, Orujov was thrown by Ono with an `Uchi Mata` that resulted in a `waza-ari`, which was then followed by an `ippon` from `Kouchi Gari`. Orujov subsequently appealed the `Uchi Mata` throw, asserting that Ono had performed a "head diving" maneuver, which is a prohibited action in judo intended to protect the head from injury by preventing the opponent from landing directly on their head or neck. However, after review, the appeal was not recognized, and the referee's decision remained unchanged. These instances, while not altering the outcomes of the matches, highlighted moments of intense competition and the fine margins of elite judo officiating.