Hidayat Heydarov

Biography

Hidayat Heydarov was born on 27 July 1997 in Alxasava, Azerbaijan. He competes in the men's 73 kg category in judo and has established himself as one of the most decorated judokas of his generation. Representing Azerbaijan on the international stage, Heydarov developed his skills through the national judo program and rose quickly through the ranks of European and world competition during his late teens and early twenties.

Heydarov first announced himself as a major force in European judo by winning the European Judo Championships in 2017, a title he claimed at just nineteen years of age. This early success signaled the beginning of a sustained period of dominance in his weight category. He would go on to reclaim the European title in 2022, 2023, and 2024, making him a four-time European champion overall. His technical precision, competitive consistency, and ability to perform under pressure distinguished him from his peers across the continent.

The year 2024 proved to be the most celebrated in Heydarov's career. At the Paris Olympics, he captured the gold medal in the 73 kg category, fulfilling what had long been anticipated by followers of the sport. He did not stop there, as he also claimed gold at the World Championships held in Abu Dhabi and at the European Championships in Zagreb that same year, completing an extraordinary clean sweep of the three most prestigious titles in judo within a single calendar year. This achievement placed him among the elite judokas in the history of the sport.

In recognition of his contributions to Azerbaijani sport, Heydarov was awarded the Shohrat Order in 2024, one of Azerbaijan's distinguished state honors. The recognition reflected not only his Olympic triumph but also his broader record of achievement that had brought international attention to Azerbaijani judo over the course of nearly a decade of high-level competition. His success has made him one of the most prominent athletes in the country's sporting history.