With many new individuals in attendance of the primary EJU Get Collectively Tour, it’s good to see some extra acquainted faces. On the Velika Gorica tour cease, there was a Croatian legend among the many teaching employees. From Yuki Judo Klub, London 2012 Olympian and 2009 European bronze medallist, Marijana MIŠKOVIĆ-HASANBEGOVIĆ, was passing on her ardour to the tailored judoka of her membership.
Medalling as just lately as 2016 in Grand Slam and Grand Prix finals, and ending her profession together with her staff within the European Staff Championships in 2017, securing the bronze, Marijana is extra than simply her outcomes. Although the medals are good, it was her pioneering standing that has put her within the historical past books for Croatian judo. Not solely was she the primary senior European medallist of Croatia, however the first lady to symbolize the Croatian flag in judo on the Olympic Video games.
Although she battle retire from competitors till later, it was in 2013 when the thought of working with tailored judoka was established.
When Marina [Draskovic] went to our first Grand Prix in Rijeka in 2013, she got here with a gaggle of youngsters and so they have been all watching me. That day I advised her to attend till I had my medal and I’d be again, it was my first medal in a Grand Prix, and after the medal ceremony I went again, and since that day I knew it’s what I needed to do, it was already part of me. Then two years later, extra youngsters got here to the Grand Prix in Zagreb and so they jogged my memory of my promise to work with them however I nonetheless needed to end my profession, my dream.
Ultimately the time got here when competitors days have been over, and an entire new life started.
I’ve been a coach for younger youngsters for a very long time, and I began with two boys with cerebral palsy in my outdated membership however they didn’t perceive and thought I used to be losing my time one way or the other. Their thought was that I might actually make a distinction to assist the kids win medals, however at that time I believed ‘why is the medal so necessary?’ For me it meant extra to have these wins within the mind and the center. I don’t need individuals to see tailored judo and really feel unhappy, as a result of it isn’t, I truly suppose they reside higher lives as a result of they actually reside every day to the fullest. One mom I’ve right here at the moment, we’re her household and her assist, I believe judo makes you realise you’re by no means alone, I do know I might name up the women I used to battle and ask for assist, and so they’d give it to me. That is what our sport is about.
The European Judo Union slogan is ‘Judo Extra Than Sport’, and occasions like this exhibit simply how actual that’s, with Marijana dedicating her life to extend inclusivity, together with elevating her three boys.
I used to be doing the whole lot to take an Olympic medal, I sacrificed with my household, and after my first son, I went again to judo. In London, I used to be the primary lady from Croatia to go to the Olympic Video games, first to take a European medal in 2009, then after London I promised that in Rio they might get a medal. Now got here my second youngster. Ultimately I didn’t go however I did the whole lot I might, and if I’m requested if I’m glad with my medals, however I nonetheless suppose now that my outcomes don’t match my talents as a judoka. I gave 110% all the time, so I skilled for these Olympic, World and European medals and that’s what I believe is necessary now.
Right here, I see medals all over the place, we’re all right here collectively and we’re comfortable. Judo has modified and I believe it has modified us, within the mind and within the coronary heart. I’m a cheerful lady, I’ve two golf equipment, one with tailored judo and the opposite not. It’s arduous work when I’ve these youngsters with me all the time however after I go dwelling I do know that I’ve executed the most effective I can do. My eldest son is competing in cadets now, and although I really feel nervous seeing him battle, the feelings right here and my nerves are a special degree. I used to be competing on the highest degree, and nonetheless that is worse, I used to be shaking on the primary day. Everybody has assist and has a system and I’m alone, I’ve 42 youngsters.
Marijana might have felt the nerves however she actually wasn’t exhibiting it in the course of the competitors day of the Velika Gorica Get Collectively 2024.
Creator: Thea Cowen
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