Vitalie GLIGOR began judo on the age of 9, after actually begging three totally different coaches at his major college to let him practice, because the classes have been formally solely open to kids aged 10 and over. He stored coming again till they let him into what appeared within the eyes of a 9 yr outdated to be a “miraculous ambiance of judogi”. On the age of 19, an harm compelled him to finish his aggressive profession and he left the mat and the dojo for what appeared to be everlasting.
It took an unlucky incident for him to be reunited with judo. Oleg Cretul, 1996 Olympian for Moldova, had a automobile accident (1997) which prompted him to lose his sight. It was a second that modified Gligor’s life as he turned and has been a pillar of help for Cretul ever since.
If Oleg hadn’t had that automobile crash, I don’t assume I might be in judo at this time. Judo known as me again by means of him. Judo is my life. I typically discuss it with Oleg. I don’t need to sound clichéd however judo deepens my coronary heart. All the things I’ve in life I owe to judo.
Since then, Gligor has been the top coach of Moldova’s Paralympic judo workforce, which clearly takes up most of his time. So what introduced him to Sarajevo?
I got here to this competitors primarily as a result of I need to inspire my athletes. Typically after I ask them to push tougher, to struggle, to be sturdy and to beat obstacles in life, they inform me ‘Ey, it’s straightforward to speak about it’, so at this time I needed to point out that I’m not solely a coach, however I will also be an athlete.
My preparation for this occasion was little to none to be trustworthy. I’m a full time coach and my workforce’s routine comes first, so really the one purpose I used to be capable of come right here in any respect is as a result of we have now per week off earlier than the OTC in Porec. After I got here right here I additionally realised that this occasion shouldn’t be straightforward, there are judoka who actually put together for this occasion and they’re at a very good degree. I’ve performed some working and such however my mat base coaching shouldn’t be a lot in any respect. The final time I had a full technical session was about 20 years in the past. This occasion additionally gave me an opportunity to see what degree I’m at as a competitor.
On the primary day of the European Judo Championships Veterans Sarajevo 2024, Gligor didn’t solely had six contest to battle by means of, finally claiming bronze, however was capable of relieve some reminiscences that had lengthy been lodged in his thoughts and physique.
I believe that this championship is a brand new life for all judoka. I used to return right here like a customer however I by no means thought concerning the expertise of this occasion while you compete. At this time introduced again emotions I had 31 years in the past. You can not get these feelings by watching the occasion, you need to take part to actually expertise it.
All in all, at this time was an ideal day I used to be with my household and with my youngsters. It was their first time to observe me competing. I’ve two youngsters and my little boy began to do judo so I needed to point out him what it means to do judo and to see what our judo household is like. Moreover, my household was additionally capable of really feel new feelings at this time. If I’m trustworthy I used to be afraid to lose becuase I didn’t need them to have unhappy emotions. In the end, by seeing daddy preventing I actually hope they are going to be concerned in judo or sport on the whole. Deep down, I hope my youngsters will grow to be a judoka and be a part of this household. All my life belongs to this sport.”
Gligor admitted that the expertise he had at this time made him toy with the concept of returning to the veterans Europeans and maybe even competing on the veterans worlds later this yr.
Photographs: Dino Secic & Zakaria Chelidze
Creator: Szandra Szogedi
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