Mihael Zgank: Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More!

Who Is Mihael Zgank?

Mihael Žgank is a Slovenian judoka who has made a significant impact in the world of combat sports. He’s won medals at some of the biggest judo tournaments in the world, including a 2019 gold medal at the IJF European Judo Championships. He competed in the 2020 olympic games and placed just outside of medal range, in 5th place. He proudly represents his home country of Turkey in international competition and continues to be one of the most feared competitors on the international circuit

Who Is Mihael Zgank?

Mihael Žgank is a Slovenian judoka who has made a significant impact in the world of combat sports. He’s won medals at some of the biggest judo tournaments in the world, including a 2019 gold medal at the IJF European Judo Championships. He competed in the 2020 olympic games and placed just outside of medal range, in 5th place. He proudly represents his home country of Turkey in international competition and continues to be one of the most feared competitors on the international circuit

What this article covers:

• Who Is Mihael Zgank?
• How Old Is Mihael Zgank?
• How Tall Is Mihael Zgank?
• How Much Does Mihael Zgank Weigh?
• Mihael Zgank Fight List
• Mihael Zgank's Best Fight of All Time
• Mihael Zgank Record
• Is Mihael Zgank Retired?

Born on February 1st, 1994, in the town of Celje, Slovenia, Žgank began his journey in martial arts at a young age. He soon discovered his passion for judo and dedicated himself to honing his skills in the sport.

Powerful Judo by Mihael Zgank

Throughout his career, Žgank has achieved numerous accolades and represented Slovenia on various international platforms. Standing at a height of 5’11”, he competes in both the 100 kg and 90 kg weight categories. His remarkable abilities on the judo mat have earned him recognition both nationally and internationally, including a spot representing Turkey internationally.

Žgank's judo career reached it’s pinnacle at the 2020 Olympic Games. He had the honor of representing Turkey at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Competing in the men's under 90-kilogram category, he showcased his exceptional skills and strength on the global stage. Though he faced formidable opponents, Žgank's performances were outstanding and served as a proof that he belonged on the biggest stages in the world. 

Beyond the Olympics, Žgank has left his mark on various international judo competitions. He has competed in prestigious events such as the European Judo Championships, where he won a gold medal in 2019. He also placed 2nd at the World Judo Championships in 2017. With each tournament, he has continued to impress and prove his mettle on the mat.

Before Žgank's more notable tournament victories, he was already terrorizing the professional circuit at an international level. He has stood on the podium multiple times, earning bronze medals at events like the 2016 European Judo Open in Rome, the 2017 Grand Slam Ekaterinburg, and the 2019 European Games in Minsk. These achievements not only highlight his skill but also establish him as a formidable force in the world of judo.

Off the mat, Žgank is known for his humility and dedication to his sport. He’s turned in over 300 head to head match results as a professional judoka and his journey is far from over. With his talent, determination, and unwavering focus, he aims to achieve further success in future competitions. As he continues to make strides in his career, he aims to make his way back to the Olympics to claim gold for his ethnic home country of Turkey.

Talent like this is rare, and it’s even rarer to have an opportunity to learn from an Eastern judoka. In addition to his coaching in person classes and competing intensely, Mihael has also films online content to spread his love and knowledge of the sport to others. He’s created “Powerful Judo” as an offering through our BJJ Fanatics storefront.

Judo Building Blocks by Israel Hernandez

How Old Is Mihael Zgank? 

Zgank was born on February 1 of 1994, making him 29 years old at the time of writing in the spring of 2023.

Mihael Zgank Family

Not much has been published about Mihael Zgank’s family in the Western media. He’s a well known figure in the Middle East and European judo scenes. What we do know is that he has parents from both Slovenia and Turkey, as he was born in one but competes in the Olympics for the other.

How Much is Mihael Zgank Worth?

Mihael Zgank’s net worth is not public information, but he is a championship level judoka with a bright future ahead of him. We expect more tournament victories from him in the near future. Based on his 2020 showing at the olympic games and on his follow up bronze medal at the 2022 IJF Grand Slam in Tel Aviv, Zgank is headed back to the 2024 Olympics with gold in his sights.

How Tall Is Mihael Zgank?

Mihael Zgank is 5’11” tall, or about 181 centimeters. He’s about average height for a 90-100 kg athlete.

How Much Does Mihael Zgank Weigh? 

Mihael Zgank has competed at multiple weights in the IJF. He does so most frequently in the 90 kg and under category, including during his Olympic run. That’s about 200 pounds. Zgank also competes at a higher weight with a limit of 100 kg, or about 220 pounds. About a decade ago, he started his career in the 66 kg and under category, so he’s definitely put on some bulk since those matches!

Mihael Zgank Fight List

Mihael Zgank has competed in many international competitions, and they’ve been well documented. There's a record of Zgank competing head to head over 300 times as a black belt. Instead of looking at all of his fights, let’s take a peek at how he stacks up in terms of his overall Judo resume. Notably, he’s competed for both of his ethnic heritages, Slovenia and Turkey:

For Slovenia (2009-2017)

• 2011 European Junior Championships, Lommel - Bronze
• 2012 European Junior Championships, Porec - Bronze
• 2014 European U23 Championships, Wroclaw - Bronze
• 2015 IJF Grand Prix, Tashkent - Bronze
• 2016 IJF Grand Prix, Budapest - Silver
• 2016 IJF Grand Prix, Almaty - Bronze
• 2016 World Masters Guadalajara - Bronze
• 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Eliminated in Top 32
• 2017 IJF Grand Prix, Dusseldorf - Bronze
• 2017 World Championships - Silver

For Turkey (2019-2023)

• 2019 World Masters, Qingdao - Bronze
• 2019 IJF Grand Prix, Perth - Bronze
• 2019 IJF Grand Prix, Antalya - Gold
• 2019 IJF Grand Prix, Tel Aviv - Silver
• 2019 IJF Grand Slam, Brasilia - Bronze
• 2019 European Championships, Minsk - Gold
• 2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo (2021) - 5th Place
• 2022 IJF Grand Slam, Paris - Bronze
• 2022 IJF Grand Slam, Tel Aviv - Bronze
• 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games, Konya - Gold
• 2022 Mediterranean Games, Oran - Gold

Mihael Zgank's Best Fight of All Time

It’s always hard to choose one moment as the best fight of all time, and the records of Zgank’s matches are vast. Still, we think that his return to the Olympic games in 2020 was his brightest spot yet. In 2016, Zgank challenged the bracket and was eliminated in the round of 32 at the Rio de Janeiro Games. 

When he decided to relocate and represent his other heritage, Turkey, in 2018, he was also looking to make his way back to the games as an improved version of his former self. In 2021 he got the chance to do that by competing in the covid-delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and coming in 5th place. This helped prove to Zgank and to the judo community at large that he belongs on the largest of international stages. He’ll likely be back to challenge the 100 kg division for gold in 2024.

Who Did Mihael Zgank Lose To?

Mihael Zgank has competed so many times that he’s definitely had some tough losses along the way. In 2020, the the Judo Grand Prix in Tel Aviv, Zgank was warming up to the Olympic run that he’d take a year later. He hoped to achieve gold but was turned away by a Korean buzzsaw by the name of Gwak Dong-Han.

Although he was able to overcome everyone on the way to the finals while representing Turkey that day in Israel, Zgank fell to the Korean and was forced to take middleweight silver instead of gold. We’re sure that this loss was fuel to the fire for Zgank, who came back stronger than ever the following year to earn 5th place in the 2020 Summer Olympic games.

Mihael Zgank Record

Mihael Zgank has a lengthy competition record, with an insane number of matches as a professional. He’s been on the international circuit since 2009 as a juvenile, and his total win loss as a judoka during that time is 189-114. In a sport that happens as quickly as judo, it’s impressive to boast a winrate like that.

Mihael Zgank Injuries

Judo is brutal on the body and so it’s likely that Mihael has experienced many small injuries, even by the age of 29. Still, he hasn’t publicly withdrawn from any matches during his time as a professional, so he’s stayed relatively healthy. Like any combat athlete, it’s important for Zgank to follow a regimented strength and conditioning program in order to stay in top shape for the professional competition circuit. 

Is Mihael Zgank Retired?

Mihael Zgank is not officially retired, although at 29 he’s no longer “young” for a Judoka. He’ll likely continue to compete frequently on the largest stages in Russia, Europe, and the world. We’re looking forward to more awesome technique videos and tournament results from Mihael. We hope to see him back at the 2024 Summer Olympic games to challenge for the gold medal again.

In the meantime, check out his work with BJJ Fanatics. Powerful Judo", by Mihael Žgank, is a comprehensive instructional series that delves into the dynamic and strategic world of judo. This product is designed to equip judo practitioners of all levels with the knowledge and techniques necessary to enhance their skills on the mat.

In this extensive video series, Mihael Žgank, a highly accomplished Slovenian judoka, shares his expertise and insights gained from years of experience in the sport. Whether you are a beginner looking to develop a solid foundation or an advanced practitioner aiming to refine your techniques, "Powerful Judo" provides valuable instruction that caters to all skill levels. 

Whether you're a judo enthusiast, a seasoned competitor, or a coach seeking to enhance your teaching repertoire, "Powerful Judo" by Mihael Žgank is a must-have instructional series that will elevate your judo skills to new heights. Embark on this transformative journey and unlock the secrets of powerful and effective judo techniques today.

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