Idman.biz
Portuguese tumbler Vasco Pezu, who won the European Championship, shared his impressions of what it feels like to win a "gold" medal on his home turf.
"I didn't expect to win at all. I came here prepared, but I never thought I would win, especially with these combinations. This is the program I wanted, and if I hadn't won with it, everything would have been different," he said in an interview with İdman.Biz after the final.
Vasco calls this medal an "excellent revenge" after finishing seventh in the final of the European Championship held in Portugal again in 2024, although he reached the final:
"This is a dream come true, especially since everything happened at home for the second time after 2024. At that time, I was a finalist, but it didn't work out. Now it feels like revenge, and what a great revenge.
Hearing the Portuguese anthem at the European Championship, especially when I raised the Portuguese flag to the top of the podium... It's a special feeling. I can't describe it."
He also shared his thoughts on the other finalists of this European Championship - Azerbaijani athletes Tofig Aliyev and Mikhail Malkin:
"I expected both of them to be on the podium. Tofig and Malkin were my main rivals. I understood that it would not be easy to compete with them because they are really very strong. Regardless of what happens, they remain big names in this sport."
Vasco added that he has friendly relations with Azerbaijani athletes, but personal feelings must be put aside during the competition:
"We are all friends, we have good relations. They are great guys, but during the competition we are rivals. Therefore, regardless of our relations, we must act strategically."
It should be reminded that Tofig Aliyev became the silver medalist of the European Championship in individual competitions, and Mikhail Malkin took fourth place. Both athletes won "silver" in the team event.
