Meet Diyora Keldiyorova: The Olympic judo Champion inspiring Uzbekistan’s next generation

euronews (in English)

In this episode of Changemakers of Uzbekistan, we meet Diyora Keldiyorova, the Olympic judo champion whose historic gold medal win is transforming the perception of women in sports.

Transcript

00:00I was very happy when I won the gold medal in Paris.

00:06I cannot explain these words, it was amazing feelings and after the final match I said to myself, I did it.

00:19I was very happy because long time, I see 20 years I train with judo, that's why it was my dream

00:29and my dream come true and I was so happy.

00:33Judo is not easy, every time you can see in the outside it's like some throws, it's like easy but it's not easy.

00:39You have to be strong in physical and mental and psychology also, everything.

00:46Sometimes you're going up, sometimes going down, it's like this and you know if it's going down it's also process

00:54and never give up, you have to try.

00:57It doesn't matter in the sport or in the life or in the study and I learned this from judo.

01:03I take some injuries, five months before I won the games I get injury from my left knee.

01:10It was not serious but I have to out one month and then when I come back after the one month,

01:18I lost my old tactics, old techniques.

01:21You know you train every day two times and you cannot train one month.

01:26Before the Olympic Games it was very stress but my staff, my team, my coaches every time support me

01:34and they help me, they believe me and I think we did it together with my team.

01:47When I stay podium in Paris, I feel so nice emotions.

01:53I cannot explain but this time before Paris I think why Olympic gold medalist they won second time,

02:01third time or first time, why they tried because it's too hard.

02:05I think only once maybe enough and then when I stay podium I said I want to feel it one more.

02:13It's amazing feeling you know.

02:16When you stay in the podium, when everybody cheer for you and you listen, you heard Olympic champion,

02:24it's like Diora killed Diora, it's amazing feeling.

02:27I said I want to try one more and I want to feel it one more, you know.

02:32Usually I do in the morning judo training or technique, tactics.

02:37Afternoon if I have, it depends of competition.

02:41If I have competitions, we train a lot of rounderies, a lot of roundery sessions.

02:46If not, we have some physical preparation.

02:50It depends from the competition.

02:52Our coaches they will send our friend for week and for month and for year.

02:58Last five, six years we call from the Europe, some coaches from the Japan

03:04and step by step it's our judo team going up and you can see in the Olympics we won three medals,

03:11two bronze, one gold.

03:13It's amazing, I think it's big honor for me represent to Uzbekistan in the world

03:18because when I fight in the competitions, I feel my parents, my home crowd with me

03:28and it's big honor for me and every time I try to make home crowd to be happy.

03:39My goal is LA 2028 and we opened a few days ago my club, step by step going up.

03:50I think I want to make one of the best club in the world.

03:54After my winning in Paris, totally changed mind the women and families for sport

04:02because before they think about the judo, they think judo is not for women,

04:08women is not for fight, something like this.

04:11But now, I opened my club one week ago, I think 30 or 40 girls in my club they start to train.

04:21I will say to young girls, believe to yourself every time, doesn't matter how hard,

04:29some problems or some challenges, every time believe yourself.

04:34This is important in your life, in the sport, in the study, everywhere.

04:39Sometimes Uzbek girls have some mentality, you are woman, you are girl, you cannot do it,

04:45you are placed only in the kitchen.

04:47That's why when you believe yourself and you know your power and you can do what you want,

04:54if you believe yourself.

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