Zelim Kotsoyev: “I was losing – and that was the motivation I needed”

"We have a very strong coaching staff, friends, and my brother is also here. They inspired me to fight for the bronze medal, they told me that I am a fighter and I must fight to the end."

İdman.biz reports that these words were said by our judoka Zelim Kotsoyev (100 kg), who won a bronze medal at the World Championship held in Budapest.

The Olympic champion specifically noted the role of coaches in the achieved results: "It is important that we won three medals. But our coaches work so hard that I think these medals are not enough - they deserve more. After winning two gold medals at the World Championship last year, expectations were even higher this time."

Kotsoyev also recalled the moment that motivated him in the consolation match with Spanish representative Nikoloz Sherazadishvili: "After losing in the quarter-finals, I went to the consolation match without any feeling. I had no mood at all. But when Nikoloz made a move against me, I woke up as if - my feelings returned. I was losing with "waza-ari" and that was the motivation I needed. I equalized the score, the match went into extra time, we were both very tired. I think the opponent made a small mistake. But this is judo."

He also commented on saying goodbye to the red mark on the back of the kimono worn by world champions: "Everyone fought against me as if they were performing in the final! I feel it and understand it. But there is no more red mark on the back of the kimono. In any case, there is still a gold mark on the back belonging to the Olympic champion - so everything is fine. Now I'm going home to my family, I'll have two weeks of vacation."

İdman.biz