The 2024 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship is here and has athletes from all over the world making Paris their destination to seek out the highest spot on the podium. The tournament began last Saturday, Jan. 20, and will go on until Jan. 27, with the black belt finals to bring the tournament to an end, as the elite of the sport compete for the coveted IBJJF Grand Slam title.

In addition to the athletes who dream of European gold at black belt, some of last year's medalists return to the mats of the Institut du Judo to defend their reign. Read below for the current champions returning to defend their titles.

Thalisson Soares

A Worlds champion in all belts, Soares has a similar history in Euros, competing from the colored belts when the tournament was still in Portugal. With last year's championship, even after a turbulent season in 2023, he is still a favorite for the title. Standing against him, prominent roosterweights such as Zayed Alkatheeri, Jonas Andrade, Shay Montague, Oziel Carvalho, and others registered to take their place in the race for the gold. 

Malachi Edmond

A standout underdog at 2023 Euros, Edmond went full throttle and got the title last season, going through Tomoyuki Hashimoto and Diego Pato to conquer the gold. After such a powerful performance, Edmond established himself among the elite and will return to the tournament to prove that he belongs among the best light featherweights in the world, opening his campaign against Jefferson Fagundes. If he beats the winner of Tomoyuki Hashimoto vs. Zach Kaina in his second fight, Edmond could end up facing Meyram Maquiné in the semis. Diego Pato, Hiago George, and Yuri Hendrex are on the other side of the bracket, all ready to give him a run for his money in the final.

Andy Murasaki

Runner-up at the 2023 Worlds in the medium-heavyweight division, Murasaki came out on top at the Euros that same year as a lightweight and will be returning to France with the middleweight title in his sights. With 23 athletes in the group, he'll have to win four fights before reaching the gold, with a chance of meeting Mica Galvão in the final if they both make it past the semifinals. Fans are in for a treat.

Felipe Andrew

After a great season in 2023, Andrew returns to Paris to defend his title. Last year, he stood out by beating Adam Wardzisnki in the final, in a division that had big names like Rider Zuchi and Devonthe Johson. Starting on the less problematic side of the bracket this year, he might end up facing the likes of Hygor Brito, Javier Barter, Vinicius Liberati, or maybe even Wardzinski in yet another IBJJF Grand Slam final.

Jessica Caroline

The roosterweight champion in last year's Euros, Jessica Caroline returns to France stronger than ever to not only keep her crown but also to challenge the reign of a heavier division. The 2023 light featherweight champion Mayssa Bastos is back and Caroline will need all her technique and strategy if she reaches the final against the AOJ black belt.

Mayssa Bastos

Undefeated last season with more than 20 matches across the main Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the world, Bastos comes as the clear favorite for the title, even though she'll have 2023 roosterweight champion Jessica Caroline as one of her challengers. Other big names in the bracket such as Diana Thais Teixeira and Rose El-Sharouni stand to bring an end to both champions' reigns this time around.

Thalyta Silva

The middleweight champion and absolute finalist at 2023 Euros, Silva arrives as the main name in her weight division. After getting past Vanessa Griffin last year, in a bracket that had Elisabeth Clay and Magdalena Loska amongst the candidates, Silva will have two matches on her way to the title, with a chance of facing Natália Zumba and Ingridd Alves in the final.

Maria Malyjasiak

The Polish competitor Maria Malyjasiak returns to the medium heavyweight division to defend her reign in Paris. After beating Sabatha Laís at 2023 Euros and writing her name among the IBJJF elite, Maria is back and might end up fighting in the final against the likes of Vanessa Griffin, Leticia Cardozo, or even an encore from last year against Sabatha Laís. 

Amanda Magda

The Fratres black belt Amanda Magda ranks among the athletes who went the extra mile and conquered a big title during the 2023 season. With last year's gold still fresh in her memory, Magda aims to repeat her feat this year and will have an even more problematic bracket ahead of her, with the chance of facing Dream Art's Izadora Cristina in the first fight. If she reaches the final, Magda will have an equally challenging last match, as Melissa Stricker comes as the favorite on the other side of the bracket.

Gabrieli Pessanha

The currently undisputed champion in the Jiu-Jitsu world, Gabi Pessanha is the favorite in both weight and absolute at every championship she registers for. With her double gold at last year's Euros, Pessanha will have Maryanna Cardoso as her first opponent in this year's bracket, and if she reaches the final, she'll have to face one of her two super heavyweight rivals: Tayane Porfírio or Yara Soares.