Damiano Martinuzzi: “We went to training in Brazil and Japan so as not to be spied on by our opponents…”

At the age of 42, the Hainaut has been training the world champion and the double European champion (among others…) since Mark Van der Ham left Judo Vlaanderen a year ago to become performance director in… Azerbaijan! After a period of reflection, Koen Sleeckx, responsible for the high level on the Dutch-speaking side, hired the German Udo Quellmalz, 56, former Olympic champion (1996, Atlanta) and world champion (1991, 1995) in – 65 kg, to supervise the whole thing.

And the least we can write is that the formula works well. A few days before the World Cup, Matthias, Toma but also Ellen Salens (- 48 kg) and Amber Ryheul (- 52 kg) met in their lair in Wilrijk for the final preparations. And it was hot-show for three days…

Damiano, how does this World Cup look for Belgian judokas and, in particular, for Matthias Casse and Toma Nikiforov?

“So far, everything is going well! We have done a long preparation with two internships, one in Brazil, the other in Japan. And then, the youngest one here, in Belgium. During this period, we included the Grand Slam in Antalya which wasn’t really a goal but allowed for a drop in weight, but Toma didn’t line up in the end due to a minor ankle injury and to take no risks. But now everything is fine!”

Why did you opt for these internships in Brazil and Japan. And not Turkey, for example, while you were there?

“We wanted to get out of conformity a bit. Today, there are a lot of internships in Europe open to everyone and therefore always with the same people. There is a little too much analysis. “environment and also style of judo. When we are in training, it is frequent that we observe each other. Sometimes we try new techniques. So, it is better that it is not under the eyes of a potential opponent in competition. Matthias and Toma are among the best in their category. They are watched. Both in Brazil and in Japan, there were no Europeans, apart from the Uzbeks.”

What other objective than a podium in Doha?

“Of course! It’s the first big meeting of the season. A World Cup is very important in a career. Now, the medium-term goal is also the Games in 2024. If we ask a judoka if he prefers to be world champion in Doha or Olympic champion in Paris, he will always answer Olympic champion. Some might say both. Why not? And I suspect that would be the answer of Matthias and Tomas…”

The difference between the two is that Matthias comes from three podiums and Toma’s already dates from 2015! It is not normal ?

“No! I think Toma will put the dots on the “i”. He showed that we always had to reckon with him. OK, he finished at the foot of the podium in these last three meetings. These fifth places left him with frustrations but they motivate him.”

Compared to Matthias, everyone knows that his main rival is the Georgian Grigalashvili…

“First of all, it won’t just be Grigalashvili… But hey, it’s true that they have shown that they are always present in the big meetings. In 2021, Matthias beat the Georgian in the final of the World Cup and for the Olympic bronze. In 2022, it was the opposite at the Euro and the World Cup. But the category of – 81 kg is very high. An example? The Japanese Nagase, Olympic champion, will not be head of series. Matthias or Grigalashvili can fall on him in the first round!”

What was the impact on Matthias of his victory in Antalya?

“Matthias knows how to put things into perspective. A victory like a defeat. He is aware that it was not a real objective. Without wanting to be pretentious, he is able to take a competition as training, as preparation. Even after his victory in the final , he knew he wasn’t in great shape. Antalya, he hadn’t prepared him. Just the weight.”

Back to Grigalashvili. What are the qualities of the Georgian?

“Listen, he has everything. Like Matthias. In the last few months he has improved a lot tactically; which is normal because he is young. 23 years old. In fact, he follows the same evolution as Matthias who , he is 26 years old. Now they are both complete. They respect each other.”