The navarro Ibai Gracia Garijo (Pamplona, 26 years old) will compete on Saturday, November 11 at the World Sambo Championship in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. She will do so in the -71 kilo category, along with her colleagues from the Spanish Olympic Wrestling and Associated Sports Team, Carla Albitos (59kg), Fernando Díaz (79kg) and Ezequiel Silvino (98kg). The one of Berriozaras he declared yesterday from the Caucasian capital where he had just arrived, he will try to compete at the highest level like his father did, Peter Grace, world champion of this modality. The boxer will fight tomorrow in the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complexwhere he will represent the Navarro Fight Club.
This Saturday the World Cup begins. How are you approaching it?
I always approach the championship the same. Giving my all, having fun and, in general, having a good time, that’s what it’s all about.
Do you know the rivals?
They have already drawn the draw and, yes, I know those who have come out. There is a Georgian with whom I have already fought three times and he is very good. I am on the other side and if we meet it will be in the final.
If my father managed to become world sambo champion. Because I do not?
What is your mentality heading into Saturday?
The mentality is the same as always. Destroy them.
He fights again in an Eastern country, is the fight better seen there? Are there more professionals?
Sambo was invented in Russia. That’s why all the surrounding countries love fighting. Like us football, well they have sambo.
Last year, in Serbia, you won bronze in the European Championships. What was that experience like?
A medal in European It is not paid with anything. Seeing yourself there with the best…Between the Russian, the Georgian, the Azerbaijani…It’s something incredible.
How did your relationship with the world of wrestling begin?
I started with him judo from a very young age because my father was a coach and always took me to his classes. Furthermore, he was a very active boy and I was practicing many sports: gymnastics, tennis, soccer… Until I realized that wrestling was my thing. I tried different modalities, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo and sambo, which, right now, is the one I like the most. For me, it is the most complete fight.
Throughout his career he has been climbing positions. What is it mainly due to?
I always go little by little. I don’t eat my head much. You have to keep training and then see what comes out. If I have anything to thank, it is my family who helps me every day and I am lucky that I can train well. Then I have my brother (Gorka), who practices sambo, and my father who is the coach and who, in addition, was world champion of this sport. If he could, why not me?
How is sambo received in Spain?
It’s not practiced much here. Since it is not an Olympic sport and there is not much acceptance. Judo and Greco-Roman wrestling are practiced more when they are. But little by little there are more people who do sambo.
And in Navarra?
In Navarra there are more and more people who practice it. Since the Navarrese federation was created, little by little we are encouraging more people to participate in the community championships.
DAYS
Name. Ibai Gracia Garijo
Birthdate. 26/05/1997. Pamplona
Trajectory. Bronze medal in the 2022 European Championship. Gold medal in the 2021 National Sambo Championship with the Navarrese team.
2023-11-10 04:16:08
#approach #World #Cup #fun #give
