After changing into World Champion at solely 21 years outdated, Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB) garnered an excessive amount of consideration, and has remained a constant prime athlete of the -90kg class. This 12 months securing the European Champion title and a World silver, solely confirmed his standing, which he’s decided will transpire by means of to future generations.
In August of this 12 months Majdov hosted the Majdov Academy, alongside Olympic Champions; Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI (GEO) and Fabio BASILE (ITA).
This 12 months we had 25 nations from three continents, with slightly below 1000 children there. It has been a number of years since I began this, my purpose isn’t solely to have good outcomes, and to be a champion, however I need to assist folks within the Balkan nations. Once I was a baby, I didn’t have the possibility to fulfill my idols or be taught from anybody. I went to Japan and was praying for somebody to point out me one thing! Now, I’ve the flexibility to deliver my pals who’re Olympic and World Champions right here to show their expertise. It’s changing into my primary happiness.
In earlier editions, well-known champions together with TOTH Krisztian (HUN), Amandine BUCHARD (FRA), Aleksandar KUKOLJ (SRB), Zebeda REKHVIASHVILI (GEO), Sugoi URIARTE (ESP), TAKATO Naohisa (JPN), Rustam ORUJOV (AZE), Alim GADANOV (RUS) and Mikita SVIRYD (BLR) attended the Academy, delivering classes to younger athletes. There have been additionally junior and senior European and World medallists from just a little nearer to dwelling; Milica NIKOLIC, Andrea STOJADINOV, Larisa CERIC, Amel MEKIC, Danilo PANTIC and Aleksandra SAMARDZIC.
I didn’t assume, after I first began, that it could go on this means and it could deliver me such pleasure. Yearly, I can see it of their eyes, and I’m very blissful about it. Now I simply need it to be higher and higher, these numbers are loopy for Balkan nations, in France for instance, the identical scale could be about 10,000!
Off the tatami, Majdov has additionally began a brand new undertaking.
Now throughout this time, I’m beginning my very own line of judogi, however just for children. We’ve an issue within the Balkans, it’s exhausting to purchase a judogi for a child as a result of there’s a lengthy watch for orders, however now I’ve began to make my very own, it will likely be known as ‘Unbroken’, in step with my model that I began beforehand.
Once I was a child I by no means considered something like this, that I’d have the possibility to do that, however I turned World Champion very younger, and after this we opened one other 100 judo golf equipment, after which particularly the place I reside, in Republika Srpska, I used to be the primary World Champion of any sport, and have become a logo for them. Due to this, I’ve good relationships with presidents, and so they helped me quite a bit. My focus now could be on the kids, and never too way back I additionally began the Nemanja Majdov Basis, there are restricted funds in judo and for instance the place I reside we don’t have so many judoka however I need this small group to have success, to be on a programme in order that I can ship them to tournaments.
Majdov has a membership in East Sarajevo, a base the place many prepare, the place the present European Champion is proud to say that everybody is welcome,
Most of the folks of Sarajevo prepare in my membership, we’ve got full respect for each individual that comes, faith doesn’t matter to us, we’ve got full respect for each other and that it the purpose of this sport. Earlier than the Olympics, each myself and Kukolj (Aleksandar) and Kumric (Zlatko) from Croatia, we have been coaching collectively. It has been constructed by means of medals and our funding, it has taken plenty of work, at the same time as a junior, this cash was saved. Now, we’ve got perfected it.
To assume that he began judo inside his own residence along with his brother, Stefan and father, Ljubisa, who was voted Finest European Males’s Coach 2017, the household have come a good distance, in search of methods to raised judo the place they reside.
It isn’t in regards to the ultimate vacation spot, it’s in regards to the journey, and I’m proud of the way in which it occurred for me, I believe if I had the whole lot like I’ve now, I wouldn’t have been a champion. I used to be hungry and defeat was by no means an choice, now I take a look at my sons, I ponder how it will likely be for them, it will likely be my problem as a mum or dad as a result of they’ve all of it, and I believe in all sports activities, you want to be hungry for fulfillment. In fact my father already has him working [he laughs] however we are going to see.
Judoka
Nemanja Majdov
Writer: Thea Cowen
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