Matej Belistojanoski is one of the rising names in Macedonian karate, and at just 21 years old, he has already built an impressive international career. Born in Prilep, Belistojanoski began developing his karate career with Sport 94 Prilep before continuing his journey with Olympic Sport. His dedication to kumite, discipline and years of competition have helped him establish himself among the leading young karate athletes from Macedonia. He is also a member of the national team and has been working under senior national team coach Aleksandar Kuzmanovski.
The year 2026 has already been a remarkable one for Belistojanoski. Earlier this year, he became European youth champion in the under 21 category, winning the gold medal at the European Championships in Cyprus. He also captured gold at the Karate 1 Series A event in Tbilisi, Georgia, showing that his success is not limited to one competition. His performances throughout the year have established him as a serious competitor on the international karate scene and created high expectations ahead of the Mediterranean Games in Taranto.
Today, September 1, Belistojanoski delivered the biggest result of his career so far. Competing in the kumite category up to 67 kilograms at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, he went through four demanding fights and finished the competition unbeaten. He defeated Mustafa Almaslamah of Syria 6-1, Italy’s Luca Maresca 2-0 and Greece’s Georgios Baliotis 5-1 before reaching the final. There, Belistojanoski produced a dominant performance against Croatia’s Boran Berak, winning 6-0 and securing the gold medal.
The triumph is significant not only for Belistojanoski but also for Macedonian sport. His victory gave Macedonia its first gold medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games and crowned him the new Mediterranean champion in karate. After an extraordinary year that has already included European and international success, Belistojanoski has now added one of the biggest titles of his young career. From the karate tatami in Prilep to the top of the podium in Taranto, his journey is becoming one of the stories to watch in Macedonian sport.
