For all those decades at the service of others and because Dr Heinz decided to step down from his international duties, he was recognised by President Marius Vizer on the occasion of the IJF gala dinner that took place on the eve of the second day of competition in Hungary.
Dr Vladimir Heinz, an orthopaedic surgeon, first worked as a doctor with a local judo club in Opava in 1976, moving to help the IJF Head Sport Director, Vladimir Barta with the Czech junior team. He became Chairman of the Czech judo Medical Commission and later the Czech Olympic Medical Commission, attending every Olympic Games and world judo championships with the team, since 1990. For the last 33 years he has been a much respected member of the IJF judo family, joining the IJF Medical Commission, also in 1990. As was stated during the awards ceremony, "Vladimir is a gentleman, a man whose experience and professionalism has added great value to our sport. To honour his lifetime of service, the IJF is delighted to present Dr Vladimir Heinz with the IJF recognition diploma.”
Behind the joy and the privilege of being recognised by the institutions he served with a big heart for so long, there was a lot of emotion, that unfeigned emotion that inspires respect. Dr Heinz, 'Miro' to his friends, talks about it best,"I have mixed feelings. I've spent so many years within the judo family that I feel both happy for what we did together and sad because it is a page that is turned.
It's hard to think that I've spent so much time with the judo community, more than 40 years. I can tell you that the best decision of my life was to join the Opava Judo Club as a local doctor. It has changed my life. Step by step, from the local level, I went on to the national and international levels. I was not a judoka but I have the feeling that I became one in the contact of the sport."
If Dr Heinz’s first interest was the medical aspect, it became quickly something else that involves a strong human dimension. "I'll miss international judo but I'll miss of course, probably even more, all the friends of the international circuit and the athletes, definitely.” It must be said here that Dr Heinz has always been very close to the judoka and we will miss his kindness and professionalism.
Having been a close observer of judo over the past decades, he became an expert and knows what he is talking about, "Beyond the professional interest as an orthopaedic doctor, I've come to know and understand judo better. Judo is a fighting sport when it comes to competition and its dynamic is actually very easy to understand. I find it incredible that within a few minutes you have to decide who is better than the other and sometimes even within a few seconds. Being the top favourite is not a guarantee to win. We see that all the time in judo. Sometimes the weaker one wins, just because of a better opportunity. Judo doesn't only involve strength and power, it's so much more than that.
Today judo has become much faster and stronger than when I started as a doctor. It's more demanding as well but for spectators it's an amazing sport. My wife who had never seen judo before, likes it too now.
I can tell you, as a doctor, judo is indeed a very safe sport. There is less than a 1% probability to get injured during a judo competition for top level athletes. Compared to other sports, this is amazing."
Double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek has known Dr Heinz for most of his career and for him, "Dr Vladimír Heinz was and still is, for the CZE team and me, a huge support, taking care of not only our health when travelling but also helping before, during and after competition time. It was a pleasure and an advantage to have such a specialist and person near the tatami, at every competition since my beginnings, right through to today. Thank you on behalf of all the judoka you have helped, operated on and supported when injured."
Vladimir Barta, the IJF Head Sport Director says Miro is someone special, "I remember that he participated for the first time in Barcelona and at that time was taking care of the Czech judoka and divers. We were roommates and so we spent a lot of time together. He would go anywhere and do anything for his athletes. I truly believe that he was made to be a doctor because all he cares about is his patients and his athletes. What he created and nourished is trust."
Dr Vladimir Heinz deserves many pages to explain the impact he had on the sport. It can also be said that judo changed him, made him the person he is today. Even if he steps down from his position in the IJF Medical Commission, he will still be involved at a national level and will continue to bring his expertise and friendship to judo. Thank you Dr Heinz, thank you Miro.