After a sensational performance at the European Championships in April, Sampaio was elated she could tick off one her goals in 2025. However the Olympic bronze medallist was unable to deliver to her full capacity on day six of the World Judo Championships, and instead needed to dig deep and find her strength to come through for her bronze medal.
I came here for the gold, and I was really upset that I was only fighting for bronze, I had to go back to the hotel for a while and deal with that, but its still a world medal, my first, and my sixth medal in a row so, lets be honest, thats quite good!
It was a steely focus and attitude in the bronze medal contest against MA Zhenzhao (CHN), a fierce, and somewhat one sided battle that was clearly only going to end with Samapio taking the medal.
I had to refocus, like I was starting a different competition. In the morning it looked like I didn’t know how to do judo, nothing was working. I just thought, I’m not getting out of here without a medal.
My coach is always here to remind me that there is more to be done, it wasn’t over. I remember that I have people around me and back in Portugal that are there for me and support me and this helps me.
I have been through so much since then, it was my best result for so long! My mental toughness has improved so much and I’m really happy looking back to 2019, for everything I’ve done.
It was the second time I fought with her and the first time I felt very dominant, but today with her, with everyone actually it felt really difficult. They all know what I do now, so I’m training some different techniques but in those periods of ‘rush’, you go back to your base. Today I took a lot of shidos and it’s been a long time since I took so many for false attacks. I had good training, but I want to be in the position that yes they know I am doing sode, but my sode is so good that it doesn’t matter, that they will fall still, and I didn’t feel like that today!
These were so many goals accomplished, I had the goal to become World Champion this year also, but still I have the three big medals I always wanted to have. I’m very proud of myself, I’ve had a tough two months, especially the last one with some very tough days. Some days it was very hard to remind myself what I was doing here when everything is falling apart. I am so proud and thankful for the people I have around me and everything they do for me.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen