She might not be back on the tatami competing, but the 2024 -63kg Olympic Champion, Andreja LESKI from Slovenia couldn’t be kept away from the first ever European Open in her country. Ljubljana became the host city to debut the continental open of 2025 and so far it has welcomed over 400 athletes from around the world as well as a number of spectators, some huge fans and others seeing judo for the first time.
It is really hard to describe all of it, but it is really just a fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Today especially, I’m here and we can celebrate this, and in my clubs’ town, with the level of the European Open which I think is very important. It is so important that Slovenian judo be promoted, even more within the country, it deserves so much more attention than it gets so this is a good step.
Some countries collect medals during the Olympic Games, but Slovenia attained only three; two gold and one silver. The second came in the women’s sport climbing (Janja GARNBRET) and the silver in men’s sailing (Toni VODISEK), but today we celebrated the first gold medal from Leski.
During the opening ceremony, Leski, along with her coach, club president and national federation president, was awarded with the Paris Olympic plaque by Vice President, Dr Ivan TODOROV.
For the first time since the Olympic Games, athletes stood to hear the national anthem of Slovenia following the presentation in Ljubljana and one thing that couldn’t be missed, was the huge smile on Leski’s face, the pride and the memories flooding back in from Paris 2024.
When I get there in my mind, I’m proud of myself and my team, even now I still can’t believe it, how much time, how many hours went in to this preparation. Not only the last two years, but it’s like a mosaic of all the little moments that made up the masterpiece. Hearing the anthem, it really just takes me back, when I loudly and proudly sang it on top of the podium! I also loved how proud people were of me, I brought so much joy to so many people and today was special, hearing it again. It makes me happy to get feedback from the Games, how it made people feel and that they recognise me, not only for my judo but for my positivity, I really am so extroverted and happy and positive, and I’m glad this came through.
There is no argument that Leski is one of the most positive competitors and finds the silver lining to everything, so when talk surrounded her of becoming an Olympic Champion, following in the -63kg footsteps of Urska ZOLNIR JUGOVAR and Tina TRSTENJAK, it was never detrimental to her, in fact she had a special way of seeing it,
It was a lot of pressure but somehow you shouldn’t focus on it, but people used to say that I was wearing this heavy backpack, but I call it my jetpack!
Leski took this power and it saw her through to the final block of the Olympic Games which plays out differently to our typical set up. In the Olympics, the athletes have very little turn around between their semi final, and ultimate final to take an Olympic gold,
I really had to calm myself down, it was a break point of the competition for me. It was a special situation because we’re only used to having one fight in the final block and it felt like a surprise! I didn’t put so much thought in to this part beforehand. Then I was in a small space with my coach and he was explaining some tactics and I had to stop him and say I was zoning out, he had to repeat everything, I was not there, I really need to refocus.
Earlier in 2024, during one the most populated Olympic Training Camps in Mittersill, the training hall was swarming with athletes capable of taking the Olympic medal, and when discussing the gold medal potential with Leski around that time, to become the third woman in the -63kg category to become Champion, she referenced her national emblem, and now can confirm that she became the third point of the Triglav.
Back to present day and the first ever European Open in Slovenia, she was able to see her fans and speak to many of the young volunteers who were desperate to meet their hero.
I think having the European Open here is great, so many people have come to support our athletes, on one hand, I think we had big expectations and we had a lot of hope, but we still had two athletes in the final block. I think it’s great that people can come and watch it live, not everyone can afford to travel and follow us around Europe and the world, so I think judo has to become a national sport one day and I truly think this is possible.
People ask me all the time, isn’t it too much, but I see it as another point of confirmation. I’m happy that people are brave enough to come and talk to me and spend time with me, I like it. Here in this event it has been amazing and now that we have this Open in the capital, we’re going on up from here!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen