Judoka Van Dijke enjoys working for the European Championship after a tough year: ‘Everything is comfortable’

After a difficult and stressful 2021, Sanne van Dijke is looking forward to the European Championship next weekend in Sofia. Judoka got into a fierce battle with Kim Polling in the run-up to the Tokyo Games. She struggled with her motivation after receiving her Olympic bronze. Fortunately, the 26-year-old Brabançon is now back on the mat.

“I was very tired in the weeks after the games,” Van Dijke told NU.nl. I was tired not only physically but also mentally. “Sometimes I would sleep 14 hours and even then I would not feel well during the day,” she said. † “You don’t notice it when you’re racing. But once it ends, the fatigue sets in. Then you secretly go beyond your limits.”

Van Dijke had to travel far to get to Tokyo. He competed with Kim Polling for the only Dutch Olympic ticket in the under 70 kilogram category, and Van Dijke defeated the four-time European champion, five years his senior. “This period has paid its price.”

Van Dijke is back in top form and the bar is high for the European Championship, thanks in part to his bronze medal in Tokyo. He doesn’t feel the pressure. “I’ve struggled with Polling to get tickets to the Games for the past three years. I think about it when I feel pressure. In comparison, everything seems comfortable.”

Sanne van Dijke won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games.

“I feel pressure, but I have confidence”

Since Polling is currently pregnant, Van Dijke is not affected by this battle for the time being. “It ensures that I have more fun at the European Championship. I really can’t wait to hit the mat.”

Van Dijke has been a big favorite at the European Championship for years. He has made four finals in the last five European Championships and won two gold medals. Just like last year in Lisbon.

“Even though I go there as defending champion, I don’t really feel any different. I think I’m the biggest title contender right now, but I don’t quite agree with that. Myself. I am sure. Of course I also feel pressure, but the pressure and the confidence are a bit heavy for me.”

Sanne van Dijke became European champion in 2017 and 2021.

“Olympic medal is made bigger than it is”

The European Championship will be Van Dijke’s first major tournament, as he is the only Dutch judoka to win a medal in Tokyo last summer. For years she dreamed of winning an Olympic medal, but her bronze medal turned out not to be a winner.

“I’m very happy with this, it’s a dream come true, but winning an Olympic medal is bigger than it is. They always say money doesn’t buy happiness and that’s something that has an Olympic medal somewhere. You think that’s all you want. , but you will get back to work quickly as usual.”

“When I was sitting at home on the couch a few weeks after the games, I thought to myself: OK, that’s it. We’ve been working on this for a long time, but finally, the postal medal era. quite disappointing. Sometimes I doubted that for a medal that made no difference to my everyday feelings, I felt that in three years the best sport had its drawbacks.”

In the end Van Dijke took the lead. “I have recovered. I feel good again and I hope he wins a gold medal at these European Championships.” The European Judo Championships start on Friday in Sofia. Saturday the lesson up to 70 kilograms with Van Dijke is on the program.