Young judokas from Norte de Santander and across Colombia gathered at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Bogotá for the National Talent School Judo Encounter, where 76 children spent days refining their groundwork, learning tactical counters, and meeting Olympic medalists.
National Talent Camp Draws Young Yudocas to Bogotá
Seventy-six children representing Norte de Santander, Quindío, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, and Santander traveled to the Colombian capital for the intensive training program. Organized by the Ministry of Sport, the initiative aims to build and consolidate the next generation of competitive judo athletes for the country.
The young athletes participated in specialized technical drills under the guidance of national coaches and guest instructors. According to coverage from La Opinión, the schedule featured instruction in Ne Waza groundwork and gripping tactics, alongside specific hold-down maneuvers including Yoko Shiho Gatame, Keza Gatame, and Tate Shiho Gatame.
Olympic Champion Yuri Alvear Inspires Participants
Multiple world champion and double Olympic medalist Yuri Alvear Orejuela visited the training camp to share her experiences with the youth competitors. The Valle del Cauca judoka displayed the gold medal she won at the 2013 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro and the bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympic Games.
During an interactive discussion with the attendees, Alvear emphasized the mental discipline required to progress in the sport, recalling her own early struggles on the mat. Yo no empecé mi carrera ganando; de hecho, empecé perdiendo,
Alvear told the participants, noting that persistence through initial defeats is essential for long-term development. Es muy importante aprender a gestionar esos momentos, porque es un proceso largo.
Con Yuri Alvear se desarrolló una nueva jornada de la Escuela de Talentos de Judo.La múltiple campeona mundial y doble medallista olímpica colombiana de judo, Yuri Alvear Orejuela, acompañó este miércoles 21 de octubre la jornada con los 76 deportistas en el encuentro nacional… pic.twitter.com/zFlP5gv7sq
Addressing the young athletes directly, she challenged them to maintain their focus during difficult training moments. ¿Cuántos quieren ser campeones del mundo? En los momentos en que no nos queremos levantar o sentimos pereza, debemos recordar adónde queremos llegar,
Alvear said.
Athletes and Coaches Reflect on the Experience
Participants from Norte de Santander highlighted the impact of the training camp on their athletic outlook. José David Raya, a member of the Cúcuta Talent School, praised the motivational talk given by the visiting champion. Me gustó la charla. Su historia me motivó mucho y me alegró que viniera. Fue increíble que nos acompañara,
Raya stated.
Fellow Cúcuta athlete Dulce Solano echoed that sentiment, noting the inspiration she drew from training alongside established figures of the sport. Conocer a una deportista de ese nivel me dejó muy sorprendida. Me siento muy bien en este espacio de entrenamiento y me marcó mucho lo que dijo sobre no rendirse,
Solano said.
The daily agenda combined technical instruction with recreational activities at the High Performance Center. Morning sessions focused on free combat sparring, while afternoons incorporated recreational activities and a closing social session for the participating coaches to exchange training methodologies.
Worth a look
