Jiu-Jitsu star Matthias Weisz: Success in sport and professional life combined!

Jiu-Jitsu star Matthias Weisz: Success in sport and professional life combined!

A Jiu-Jitsu talent is sprouting up in the heart of Leopoldstadt, who not only impresses with his sporting achievements, but is also working towards a promising professional future. Matthias Weisz, 25 years old, is the reigning vice-European champion and impressively achieved 7th place in the fighting discipline up to 85 kg at the World Championships in Bangkok. He can also boast great success at national level: he has already been Austrian national champion six times and recently won the Grand Prix in Rome. But Weisz has even more plans - he combines his sport with a career in the justice sector.

The special feature of his career lies in the dual support system “Justiz Athleta”, which combines sport and work. This program was launched by the Federal Ministry of Justice to provide top Jiu Jitsu athletes with in-depth training as judicial officers. Weisz is one of the first 30 participants in the program, which allows him to complete training to become a prison guard in addition to his intensive sporting activities. This training lasts three years and is divided into theoretical and practical phases.

The path to success

Weisz made a wise decision by applying to the Justice Athleta program. He sees clear synergies between his Jiu Jitsu and prison guard duty: discipline, respect and mental strength - all of these values ​​are important not only in sport, but also in the penal system. The judiciary emphasizes that competitive athletes like Weisz have important soft skills that are of great use in challenging situations.

The entrance exam for the program is demanding: a multiple-choice test, psychological and medical reports as well as an interview must be successfully completed. Weisz has already successfully completed his high school diploma and is also studying philosophy and economics. His sporting goals for 2026 are ambitious: top results at the World Cup in Rome and the European Championships in Crete are at the top of his list.

The support from above

Fortunately, Weisz is also supported from outside. District head Alexander Nikolai (SPÖ) congratulated him on his successes so far and emphasized how important such talents are for the image of the prison guard. The “ATHLETA 2025” program, which was presented by Federal Ministers Dr. Alma Zadić and Mag. Werner Kogler, is not only a career springboard for athletes, but also contributes to strengthening judicial protection and security in Austria. It represents a sustainable connection between top-class sport and vocational training.

As an advertising medium for the judicial guard, Weisz's motto is “Jiu Jitsu and judicial guard – success on both paths”. In addition to his impressive sporting career, he spends his free time snowboarding and motorcycling. It remains exciting to see how the talent will develop and whether he can achieve his goals. One thing is certain: Matthias Weisz has everything it takes to be successful on both paths.