Rebecca Koha has become a Muslim, but hopefully she will continue to start weightlifting.
Photo from Rebecca Koha’s Instagram account
Gints Narogs, “Latvijas Avīze”, JSC “Latvijas Mediji”
The record published on Sunday on the social network “Instagram” by the best Latvian weightlifter Rebekah Koha that she has adopted the Islamic faith deeply moved the Latvian society.
Some support the choice of 22-year-old Rebecca, because everyone can handle their life as they wish. However, there are also people (and many) who believe that an athlete, primitively, has “left the roof”.
she is not aware of what she is doing, so a point has been made to sport.
“Latvijas Avīze” tried to contact Koha, but without success – the phone was switched off, but replied to the “whatsapp” message that he would refuse to provide a comment at the moment. I found out that Rebecca is currently in Turkey, together with her fiancé Moaz Muhammad Ibrahim, a Catholic discus thrower who once became the world junior U-20 champion.
Took a work plan
Koha’s coach Eduards Andruškevičs emphasizes that the choice of each person’s life is his own thing, it is not necessary to interfere in it. Rebecca has also told him before – training is one thing, I will do everything I need, but private things are private things. She did not intend to share them.
“Rebecca is in Turkey, she flew to a friend. Before that, I was asked for a work plan because I will continue to train.
We have been to training camps in Turkey before, she knows the country well. Even this year, before the Covid-19 crisis, we had planned a training camp in Turkey. I know she has a plan to train. There are also athletes there, her friend, ”Andruškevičs tells Latvijas Avīze.
“For how long she left, I can’t say that, but I don’t think it will be too long. In any case, she has been given a work plan. “
I asked Andruškevičs, is he not worried that Koha’s weightlifting could be at peace? “As if not, but I will admit that her work plan is no longer as it should be, it is a calmer regime.
There is an excuse, because she has a health problem – her knee hurts. It is not good if the problem continues, then nothing good will happen. She can’t work at full load right now. “
Surprise many
Rebecca Koha’s decision to convert to Islam, with the consequent consequences of wearing appropriate clothing (hijab), including a call not to use photos from previous years with her, came as a surprise to many. Also to the President of the Latvian Weightlifting Federation (LSF), Olympic medalist Viktor Ščerbatiham. In a conversation with Latvijas Avīze, Viktors did not want to comment on Rebeka’s choice of life.
Honestly admits that you are surprised and now angry, so it is better to call after a week when you will calm down.
“She did what she wanted, it is her choice that must be respected. It was not possible to talk to him. I don’t even know where she is right now. We were all in shock. If we hadn’t put our picture on Instagram, we wouldn’t know anything, “says Szczerbatih.
Andruškevičs also says that he has not talked to Rebekah about her life choices. “Yes, we did not talk to her about her conversion to Islam. The fact is, she has always told me that private life is just her.
Everything is done in training, but private life is her.
That’s what Rebecca made clear to me, I respect it. There was a time when I wanted to talk more, but she said quite clearly – coach, this is my life, please don’t mix it up together, you have nothing to do there, ”says Andruškevičs.
He is convinced that family life certainly does not bother weightlifters, because there are good examples. “I don’t think that relationships, family, children can interfere with sports. Artūrs Plēsnieks is a proof that you can connect your family with sports.
Rebecca has the character of separating sports and training from her private affairs. She didn’t like anyone on top of it. I can say one thing, if the Olympics had been this year, she would have started 100 percent and gone to the medal. Only Rebecca knows what next year will be, ”the coach continues.
He has no answer what will happen next. “I don’t know if she will pull it out next year. Hope it will last.
In March, she lifted 104 kilograms in the Latvian championship in the pull, which was a record for Rebecca, but only slightly needed to lift 126 kilograms in the push, which would also be a new best result. Before that we were in a training camp in Ukraine, where we practiced well, but then the coronavirus crisis began, the Olympic Games were postponed, the load decreased.
Of course, there were also health problems. Not only knees, but also have mild asthma. She can bring, 22 years, anything is possible.
Another thing is that there are few athletes in women’s weightlifting who are older. I have a feeling that she would make the same point after the Tokyo Games. I understand that is not an easy sport, but girls still have heart things, who then does not want love?
I have had a lot of girls who train in weightlifting, Rebecca has been the best not only in Latvia, but in Europe. But it is really rare that good weightlifters are closer to 30 years than 20 years. You will not command your heart, I understand Rebecca, ”admits her coach.
Muhammad Ali and others
Rebecca Koha’s choice to adopt the Islamic faith in sport is nothing unique. The most famous is Muhammad Ali, a boxer who won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, then as Cassio Clay.
Legend has it that Clay threw his prize into the river, soon announcing that he was becoming a Muslim by adopting the name Muhammad Ali.
NBA legend Karim Abdul Jabar also changed his name and faith. Before that he was a junior of Ferdinand Lewis Alsindor, but in basketball no one knows such people, but everyone knows who Abdul Jabar was. Mike Tyson also converted to Islam, but did not change his name.
