Historic First: Germany's Luise Mattisseck Becomes World SAMBO Champion

A historic moment for German SAMBO took place at the World Cadet, Youth & Junior SAMBO Championships 2026 in Thessaloniki. Luise Mattisseck won gold in the Juniors' 65 kg category, becoming the first world SAMBO champion in Germany's history. Right after the final, she shared her emotions.

“I feel awesome. I still can't believe it. It was a long day. I got up really early, and now it's evening, so I still haven't fully realized what happened. But it just feels incredible. I had really good bouts, and in the final I finished strong with an armbar, so I'm really happy and relieved that I was able to put my plan into action,” said the new world champion.

Mattisseck revealed that her preparation for the tournament took place in unusual circumstances, as she had recently moved to another country.

“I just moved to Austria for university, away from my hometown, so my preparation was different this time. But I'm really happy that I managed to build a training system to prepare for my next competitions. I think the most important moment of every tournament is always the first bout, and if you get a good start to the day, that's the key to success. I think I had a good first bout against the girl from Kyrgyzstan: I threw her and then held her down, and the whole bout took just one minute. I'm really happy that it went so well and that I had a good start to the day,” she said.

Speaking about her training routine, Luise noted that her sporting life is not limited to SAMBO alone.

“I train every day, but not always SAMBO. I also do strength training in the gym and go running, so I do a lot, one or two sessions a day. Now I've moved to Innsbruck, Austria, for university, and I can't cycle to my mom's home anymore, so everything is kind of new. I don't have a steady rhythm yet, but there's a really good junior club near my home, and I'm doing my best to settle into a new gym and prepare for my next competitions,” the athlete said.

Asked about her dreams and goals in SAMBO, Luise spoke about her hopes tied to the World Games in Germany.

“I do have a dream, because in 2029 the World Games will be held in Germany, in my home country, in Karlsruhe. I hope SAMBO will be included in the World Games program. If that happens, it would be wonderful for me to compete there, in my home country, and simply enjoy the SAMBO experience,” she said.

According to Mattisseck, SAMBO helps her beyond the mat as well.

“SAMBO, and combat sports in general, are very important for discipline, which also helps with my studies at university. But for me, this sport also teaches what respect is, and that's a big part of the whole sport. It teaches me to respect others and always be kind to them. I've learned a lot from my coach, about what I'm truly capable of, what I can do and what I can achieve. It's very good for building confidence,” the German athlete noted.

To conclude, the world champion offered advice to young German athletes who are just starting out in combat sports.

“The most important thing is that everything is possible. Yesterday, the day before the competition, my coach texted me: 'Everything is possible.' He said it will be hard, there are very strong and serious opponents, and you really have to know what you're capable of. I believe every athlete first needs to train hard and long to reach a certain level, and then focus on what you already know and do it. Remember that it's all in the head. Of course, the first step is hard, but in the end it all comes down to mindset. You really have to get into the right mindset, work hard and stay focused, and then you will achieve what you want,” concluded Luise Mattisseck.