Franciska Szabó Retires From Combat Sports for Coaching and Rural Life
Former judo European champion Franciska Szabó is stepping away from elite combat sports and television appearances to establish a coaching base in Budaörs, Hungary, Glance reported. At 35 years old, the athlete plans to cap her active competitive career within one to two years, shifting her focus toward training young athletes and raising livestock on a small rural plot.
Transition to Judo Coaching After Elite Career
Szabó recently tested her future path during a demonstration training session with judoka in Szeged, an experience that confirmed her ambition to coach. The former Exatlon Hungary and Farm VIP contestant acknowledged that her departure from competitive judo years ago involved significant physical pain and a narrow miss at Olympic qualification. Returning to the tatami in a coaching capacity offered a starkly different perspective, filling her with energy that lasted for days afterward.
Following her achievements on the tatami, Szabó also secured a U23 European championship title in judo.
Upcoming Wrestling Appearance and Weight Division Shifts
Before settling into domestic coaching, Szabó has one final international commitment scheduled. She travels to Sardinia for a professional wrestling performance, which marks her last booked competitive preparation of the year.
In professional boxing, she is changing weight classes while also testing herself in new sporting disciplines.
Relocation to Budaörs and Plans for Family Life
Upon returning from her final international bouts, Szabó will permanently base herself in Budaörs. She plans to acquire a plot of land to keep chickens and goats, embracing a quiet rural lifestyle away from major urban centers. Alongside her coaching aspirations, Szabó noted that personal milestones—including settling into a stable relationship and starting a family—now take priority after years of intensive international travel and competition.
Mental Demands of Power Slap and Recent Physical Toll
As one of the most prominent figures in the Power Slap discipline, Szabó has drawn attention through her formidable strikes in a sport where a single blow can knock an opponent to the floor, presenting severe physical and mental challenges. Reports indicate that the massive blows she absorbs threaten her brain health, with experts noting that such impacts can potentially induce very serious dementia.
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