Judo is a highly demanding Olympic combat sport that requires a complex integration of physical, technical, tactical, and psychological preparation. This study aimed to investigate (a) the physiological, psychological, and technical characteristics of elite Greek judo athletes and (b) their contribution to final competition rankings. A total of 82 elite judo athletes (63 males, 19 females), aged 18-35 years (M = 22.21, SD = 4.14), participated in comprehensive assessments, including (a) physiological attributes such as muscular strength, anaerobic capacity, lactic acid concentration, flexibility, endurance, and isometric pull strength; (b) psychological skills evaluated using the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28; and (c) technical and tactical performance, analysed through video observation of competition matches. A total of 1,082 throwing attempts across different judo techniques were recorded, with an average effectiveness score of 3.24. Discriminant analysis revealed that psychological skills and mean effectiveness of techniques were the strongest predictors of final rankings, whereas overall physiological attributes and the number of throws had less impact. Athletes who ranked higher in competition demonstrated superior technical efficiency and psychological preparedness, suggesting that these factors are critical for success in elite judo. Findings indicate that (a) Greek judokas exhibit physiological characteristics comparable to their international counterparts, (b) they possess well-developed psychological skills, and (c) technical proficiency and psychological attributes play a more significant role in final competition ranking than physiological parameters or the total number of executed throws. These results emphasise the need for integrating psychological training with technical refinement in judo coaching programs. Future research should further explore the interplay between physical and psychological conditioning to optimise competitive performance in elite judo.
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