Ramadan Darwish is a former Egyptian judoka, several times African champion and winner of several IJF World Judo Tour events. Darwish’s career highlights include bronze medals at the 2018 and 2016 World Masters in Guangzhou and Rabat, respectively. His crowning achievement came in 2009 when he won a bronze medal at the Rotterdam World Championships in the -100 kg category, unconsciously creating an early connection with the Netherlands that would shape his future.
After retiring, following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Darwish decided to settle in the Netherlands, a natural choice given his previous training experiences there. Although he received offers to coach in his home country, he found the Netherlands to be the perfect fit for his post-competition career.
For the past three years, Darwish has been coaching the U18 and U21 teams at Top Judo Amsterdam. Under his guidance, the team has achieved notable success, including two cadet world championship medals and a qualification at the junior European Championships. The team has also consistently won medals at national championships. Darwish attributes these achievements to one key point, “We have good teamwork and it is very important.”
Adapting to life in the Netherlands, Darwish embraced the cultural differences, thanks in part to his exposure to diverse cultures during his elite judo career. He emphasises the importance of teamwork, which also helped him adjust smoothly to his new environment. “The youth here are motivated and their mentality is different from attitudes back home. In Europe, young athletes are often exposed to international competition at an earlier age, which makes a big difference in motivation and mindset.”
Outside the dojo, Darwish enjoys his life in the Netherlands and is satisfied with the decision he made for himself and his family. He has embraced Dutch culture wholeheartedly, including a love for biking, a national pastime. “I have three bikes; I don’t know why,” he laughs. “I like the system here and how people interact within society.”
On the mat, Darwish has set his sights on becoming a senior coach and achieving his Olympic dreams from a new perspective. “I want to coach at the Olympics and win a medal with an athlete. I tried and worked hard as an athlete but it didn’t happen. Now, I can do it as a coach and help athletes reach the podium.”
With his rich experience, dedication and passion for judo, Darwish continues to make a significant impact in the sport, now shaping the next generation of champions in the Netherlands.
Images: Gabi Juan / Ramadan Darwish
Author: Szandra Szogedi