There are examples all around, wherever you look, it comes in various forms. The respect we have for opponents, the collaboration of federations and organisations for the betterment of the sport, those we choose when we step away from ‘the job’. During the Poreč OTC and Judo Festival, there are displays of friendship everywhere, and EJU Vice President, Sergei ASCHWANDEN can attest to that.
Friendship is one of the core values of judo, and is witnessed across the great landscape of the sport; be it in sport or education. This value is something that unites us.
With 40 years in the sport, I can speak from experience, that the athletes I have met and even competed against at the height of my career, are now those I call friends and colleagues. In 2003, myself and Judo for Children project co-lead, Nuno Delgado, went head to head for the European title in Dusseldorf for example, yet we were bound by more than a rivalry. I think, on a very personal level, that my relationship with an athlete, but above all a personality like Nuno, has been built on respect, on the desire to exist through judo but also, once our competitive careers were over, to pass on what judo has taught us.
Successful IJF World Tour athletes; Manuel LOMBARDO (ITA) and Jorre VERSTRAETEN (BEL) also shared a wonderful TikTok, covering their decade-long friendship and early rivalry in the sport!
@manuellomby Dieci anni dopo sono riuscito a resistere 🥲🤣🤣 #RoadToParis #DietroLeQuinte #Olympics #Judo ♬ California Dreamin – Be groovy or leave man‼️
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen