Victor Skerlev entered the -73kg category at the Sofia European Judo Open amongst top eighth seed, respectively but hardly the overwhelming favourite. Ranked 79th in the world, the 20-year-old Bulgarian had potential on paper but questions in practice. Could he handle the pressure of competing at home? Would expectation weigh heavier than opportunity?
By Saturday evening, Arena 8888 had its answer. Skerlev stood atop the podium, gold medal around his neck, having delivered precisely what the home crowd demanded.
The Course of Actions
Five contests separated Skerlev from glory and none came easily. Italy’s Federico Bosis and Israel’s Amit Bobovich both pushed the Bulgarian to the contest’s dying seconds, testing his resolve and tactical discipline early. The quarter-final against Hungary’s Szabo Aron provided the turning point, 48 seconds, ippon. Suddenly, momentum shifted, the crowd sensed it, Skerlev felt it and his remaining opponents would face it.
The semi-final against Kosovo’s Dardan Cena threatened to derail everything. Regulation time expired scoreless, golden score beckoned, pressure mounted. Yet Skerlev held his nerve, found his moment and advanced to the final undefeated. Waiting there was Great Britain’s Ethan Nairne, himself on an impressive solo run through the draw. After one minute, Skerlev’s driving o-uchi-gari answered the only question that mattered, the Bulgarian took the lead and never relinquished it. When the final buzzer sounded, Arena 8888 erupted. Home gold. A maiden European Open title for a young judoka announcing his arrival.
The Emotion
Speaking immediately after the medal ceremony, Skerlev’s composure had returned but the emotion lingered just beneath the surface. “I feel well. It was a good day for me, some nice throws and of course, it was nice to win at home,” he said, understating what had just occurred.
Asked about the key moment, Skerlev identified his breakthrough moment. “I think maybe the quarter-final, it was a throw early in the fight, nice ippon. I think that was where I gained some momentum for the rest of the day.” When sharing who he wanted to thank, the emotion crept back in. “I can thank everyone, everyone that came to watch. My father, who is my coach, he couldn’t make it today but him, of course and just everyone who supports me.”
For Skerlev, Sofia represents vindication. This was his fourth continental Open appearance but his first medal. The question entering the final wasn’t whether he would medal, it was which colour he would claim. He chose gold. At 20 years old, ranked 79th at the morning of the event, competing at home with expectation heavy on his shoulders, Skerlev delivered when it mattered the most. The ranking will improve. The seedings will rise but the memory of this day, of home gold, of Arena 8888 erupting, of making his absent father proud, will endure. Bulgaria got its champion. Skerlev got his breakthrough and the audience took notice of a name that won’t be overlooked again.
Author: Szandra Szogedi