Buffalo Grove judo prodigy aiming for gold in Cancun

A young judo prodigy from Buffalo Grove plans to enlarge his already impressive medal collection when he heads to Cancun, Mexico in November to represent Team USA in the Pan American Championships.

Twelve-year-old Till Bartkovjaks punched his ticket with a first-place finish at the USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships in Spokane, Washington, last month.

He has already appeared at last year’s Pan American championships in December in Lima, Peru, where he earned a bronze medal.

He said he is both excited and proud to qualify for his second appearance at the games.

His skills have been amply rewarded with hardware, with 20 gold medals at USA Judo national-level competitions. He is a 12-time USA Judo national champion, and USA Judo ranked him the No. 1 national junior athlete from 2022 to 2024.

Judo, he said, has taught him valuable life lessons.

“Judo has taught me to be disciplined, respectful, and to never give up. It has helped me become stronger and more confident, both on and off the mat,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude for Gela Kelikhashvili, his coach at the European Judo Academy in Wheeling.

“He puts so much time and effort into helping us become better athletes and better people. I appreciate everything he does for me and my teammates,” Till said.

His run of success has drawn attention from state political figures.

Gov. JB Pritzker wrote to Till, telling him, “Illinois is proud to call you one of its own.”

State Sen. Julie Morrison also wrote him, saying she is always very proud to see her youngest constituents succeed.

“It is not every day I have a constituent win 20 gold medals,” she wrote.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky wrote, saying, “Representing the United States through USA Judo at just 12 years old is an extraordinary achievement, and you have already built a record that most athletes spend a lifetime pursuing.”

Till has maintained his balance not only in dealing with opponents, but also in handling early success.

“I always try to stay humble and remember that I still have a lot to learn,” he said. “I am thankful for my family, my coaches and everyone who supports me.”