Around 50 volunteers are on duty at the Cadet European Cup in Györ. Among them is Réka PUPP, third at the European Championships, fifth at the Olympics in Paris and fifth at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, currently the best judoka in the host country. During a lunch break, the 28-year-old Hungarian took the time for a brief interview.
What is your role for the Hungarian Judo Association here in Györ?
Réka Pupp: “‘”I will be handing out the medals at a few award ceremonies. My best friend, Kinga, is here as event manager. I like to lend a hand, no matter what there is to do, I bring coffee to the VIPs, help with the accreditations and so on. I’m familiar with this from the Junior European Cup in my home town of Paks. You can also find me behind the scenes there. At the age of 13, at the European Championships in Budapest, I had my first experiences as a volunteer. Back then I carried the belongings of Sabrina FILZMOSER, former 2-time European champion and now IJF athlete spokesperson. Sabrina injured her elbow badly in the final. I could hardly watch. But I stuck with judo, as an athlete and as a volunteer (laughs)…”
How do you look back on the past (Olympic) season – with one laughing and one crying eye?
Pupp: “I’m having fun training judo again. And the bronze medal at the European Championships in Zagreb is a highlight of my career. But I’m still very disappointed about missing out on the Olympic medal… I finished fifth in Tokyo in 2021 as a ‘nobody’. I had not much of a problem with losing in the bronze final then. But this time it was different. What’s more, I lost to Amandine Buchard both times, at the World Championships and at the Olympics. In Paris I was extremely close, we fought for over 7 minutes. But in the end I lost again. That was a huge disappointment. Everyone knew I really wanted to win a medal. This defeat was really hard to digest, to be honest. I haven’t quite got over it yet. On the other hand, I’m really looking forward to the home World Championships in Budapest and I can start to imagine continuing until 2028 in Los Angeles so that I can compete for an Olympic medal again. No setback is for nothing… I believe in my chance.”
How are you preparing for the home World Championships in Budapest? How much anticipation is there already?
Pupp: “There are big changes in our coaching staff. But that’s not a problem for me. Like me, the new head coach Barna BOR is from Paks, we know each other well and appreciate each other. I’m looking forward to working with him. We haven’t had time to talk about 2025 yet. And that suits me just fine. I still need a little time to finally process the Olympic season. I assume that I’ll start the season at the Grand Slam in Antalya in March and I definitely want to compete at the 2025 European Championships in Podgorica. But as I said, nothing has been decided yet. One thing is clear: I’m really looking forward to the home World Championships. I really want to be on the podium there. The Grand Slam victory in Budapest 2022 was my greatest success so far. I still get goosebumps today when I think about it.”’”
What would you say now – with a few months’ distance – what will you be working on in particular in the coming months and years to achieve your goals?
Pupp: “As you know a lot of details have to fit together – like a jigsaw puzzle. But I’ve realised one thing: By nature, I’m the type of person who looks at others a lot and wants to please them. I think I need to learn to look at myself more, to become more self-centred – in a positive way. Then more medals will come.”
Author: EJU Media