The name Recep ERGIN may ring a bell for those who recently watched the Senior European Championships in Podgorica, Montenegro. Though Ergin finished in 7th place, it was his second round contest against Guram TUSHISHVILI of Georgia that had his name circulating the arena. Defeating the Georgian giant with numerous techniques and finishing in ne waza, eyes are now firmly on Ergin and his progression given that he is only 20 years old.
Over the past weekend, he gave a stellar performance in front of a home crowd in Istanbul, Türkiye.
You became the champion at the Istanbul Junior European Cup—first of all, congratulations. In your opinion, what was the key factor behind this success?
Thank you. The most important factor behind this success was my self-belief and my dedicated, disciplined training. This year, I participated in the Senior European Championships for the first time, and the victories I achieved at that elite level gave me tremendous motivation. My performance among the seniors made me feel like one of the favorites in my own age category. That confidence played a major role on my road to the title.
What challenges did you face while preparing for this major tournament, and how did you overcome them?
At the beginning of the season, I suffered a knee injury. During that time, I focused patiently on rehabilitation. I tried to keep my spirits high and never lost my motivation. My belief that my time would come kept me going. I kept working step by step without giving up in pursuit of my goals.
What does your daily training routine look like to reach this level in judo?
My training schedule varies between camp periods and regular times. Generally, I do judo training 5 to 6 times a week, and strength training 3 to 4 times a week. I can say that the intensity and discipline of my training are among the most important factors that helped me reach this level.
What motivated you the most during the tournament?
Since the tournament was held in our country, there was a huge sense of responsibility on our shoulders. No gold medals had been won in my weight category yet, and I was the last chance. That gave me extra motivation. The thought of hearing our national anthem, the İstiklal Marşı, played in front of our home crowd was what inspired me the most. I wanted to achieve that—and I did.
What are your future goals in judo, and what has this victory in Istanbul added to your journey?
I have both short- and long-term goals. My first priority is to become European and world champion in my age category. Then, I want to carry those successes into the senior category and progress step by step in major tournaments. Ultimately, my biggest goal is to represent Türkiye at the Olympics and win a gold medal. This victory in Istanbul gave me a great deal of self-confidence and confirmed that I’m on the right path.
Interview: Demir S. Durak
Judoka
Author: EJU Media