Tara Babulfath had a major breakthrough in the Olympic Games when she took Sweden's first medal in Paris – and the first ever in judo.
But after the Olympic Games, the International Judo Federation's disciplinary committee decided to ban the 18-year-old from all competitions for three months. This was due to her protests against the referee in the Olympic semifinal.
It's not a normal thing for me to stand and argue with the referee. It doesn't belong to the normal, if you say so, says Tara Babulfath.
And despite the ban now being over, it hasn't landed entirely right with the judoka.
There are obviously things to learn. Yes, I don't know what to say about it honestly. I still think it was very... Yes, the same.
"I always go in to win"
The Olympic bronze medalist makes her comeback in the U23 European Championship in Poland, which starts on Friday.
Even though she herself doesn't want to call it a comeback.
Comeback feels like what you do when you retire. But I'm super excited to be back on the competition mat again.
There's no question about what the goal of the competition is.
I always go in to win. Then it doesn't matter where I am or what I've done before. So we'll see. It'll be a bit exciting.
Guested on Idol and Allsång on Skansen
Even though training has continued as usual after the Olympic Games in Paris, life has become completely different.
Babulfath has made several TV appearances this fall, including on Allsång on Skansen and Idol, and gained thousands of new followers on social media.
You've gotten a lot of attention. I'm pretty sure you and I wouldn't have been sitting here and talking six months ago, even if it had been a bigger competition, she says and continues:
I really think it's super fun, and I'm enjoying it. I get very nice responses generally, I appreciate it.
How often do you get stopped by strangers when you're out in town?
Almost every time you go out. I almost always get stopped, but I think it's super fun that people recognize you and want to chat a bit. I just get super happy.
Born: January 3, 2006 (18 years old), in Stockholm.
Sport: Judo.
Weight class: 48 kilos.
Club: Stockholm Judo Club.
Achievements: Olympic bronze 2024, World Championship bronze 2024, U18 World Championship silver 2022, U18 World Championship bronze 2023, one victory on the World Tour (Baku, 2024)
