Advice from the Champs

Three top champions gave their advice to young judokas who want to become a champion.

Ryunosuke Haga, the 2015 World Champion, had the simplest advice: "Enjoy your judo," he says. If you don't enjoy what you do, you can't excel. So, for Haga, this is the most important thing if you want to become a champion.

Andreja Leski, the 2024 Olympic Champion, says there are three things she really believes in. Firstly, desire. You have to want it. Secondly, dedication. She says this is a safety net for when things don't go well. Your dedication will ensure that you don't give up. Thirdly, belief in yourself. You've always got to believe you can beat your rivals or win big tournaments, Leski says. 

Saeid Mollaei, the 2018 World Champion, says it's important to never be afraid on the mat. "Ours is a warrior sport or a combat sport," he says. "It doesn't matter if your opponent is a World or Olympic Champion, you've always got to give it 100%."

These three champions were speaking at a panel discussion at the Mihael Zgank Judo Academy's seminar in Slovenia over the past weekend.