But it doesn’t happen by itself. When asked how hard judo is, he replied: “Of course there is stress. The draw takes place a few days before the start so you know who you are starting against. your head is only one centimeter away from your opponent’s head. Unlike tennis, for example, it is intense. And if you don’t pay attention for 1 second, you pass out. But that’s the beauty of the sport.”
Earlier this year, Smink, who was almost graduating from civil engineering, won his first gold medal at the Portuguese Grand Prix. “It was fine, but talking about my international breakthrough might have gone too far. I’ve had good times before. But after the corona period I started to struggle a bit. Then you start to wonder why. It usually doesn’t improve. yield.”
Despite being a sparring partner for other judokas in the Japanese capital, he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Then a new era dawned for Smink. “I started working in a different way with a new coach. I focused more on judo than on physicality. I worked more on technique.”
It gave him more confidence on the mat. “I started to hate it so much. I’ve always loved it. But the new approach didn’t make me feel less physically either. But I got stronger in other areas. I realized that I wasn’t always. I will have to win at all costs. I shouldn’t put too much pressure on myself. This slightly different attitude has also helped me.”
Smink says he needs matches to be ‘in the flow’. “But probably everyone has it. In times of Corona I started to lose my rhythm. It took some getting used to. At one point I stepped on the mat, unless things went bad right away. This is of course not a good starting point and it has not helped me either. I was too busy losing. Fortunately, that is now a thing of the past.
What was this? “I think it was busy. Expectations I set myself. It will be against you at some point. I had to overcome it and I succeeded. I got confirmation that I can do it. Do it. It sounds simple, but that’s how it happened, I know what my plan is and how to carry it out.
Source: RTL
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
