YOG-2018. «The medalist responds». Artsiom Kolasau

The youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires brought to Belarusian team 9 awards (2 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze). Today we start the section «The medalist responds», where prizewinners of the games in Buenos Aires answer questions. Artsiom Kolasau, two-time judo winner of YOG-2018, opens it.

I don't feel invincible. Everybody falls, everybody breaks. To become invincible, you have to train for days, for many years.

I was very happy with the first medal, I was going to this goal all year. The opponents were very strong, especially in the final. The Mongolian judoist roughed me up, but my spirit was stronger. He was afraid of me. Honestly, I was afraid of him too.

Everyone was very happy with my victory. The first to congratulate me was my mother.

The second medal made me very happy. I deserved it. In the morning before the team tournament as soon as I woke up, the first thing I did was looking at lineup. First, I was surprised. I thought middle class gathered. It turned out, that this is the best team that can be! We did our best and made a great result.

My elder brother was also engaged in judo, he is a candidate for master of sports. At first, I just went to play football with him, and then it took my interest. Professionally I began judo in 2012 – somersaults, throws. It was in Mogilev. My first gym was in the basement, I remember it very well. My coaches were great.

This year at competitions in Tula I fought in the first fight, I set myself to victory, was motivated. Against me there was a rival in a new, good quality kimono, and I tore it with a grab. He spent about two minutes looking for a new one to change.

My idol is Ilias Iliadis, a Greek judoist of Georgian origin. The coaches took him from the orphanage and raised him to be a champion. He was here in Argentina for the competition. Approached me, congratulated. Said I was the strongest cadet he'd ever seen.

Now I study in Novopolotsk in Olympic reserve school. When I finish school, I’m going to enroll to BSUPC in Minsk, if the coaches let me go, of course. I want to connect my life and destiny with sports. My dream is to become a coach.

My diet depends on the competition. If before the start I need to drive the weight, I eat less. Basically, meat and vegetables, water. Closer the competition – less water. When there is non-competition time, I eat everything, for example pasta, bread and sweets.

I like sport activities. Usually I play football and tennis, go to the pool. On vacation, I switch to other sports.

I have a trick to prepare myself before fights. I keep thinking I'm no worse than others. I train, as well as rivals, twice a day. We all have arms and legs, we break down the same way. The winner is not the one who is stronger technically, but the one who has stronger spirit.

Photo: NOC Belarus, NOC Cuba, Dzianis Kastsiuchenka