Brazil has had a phenomenal start to this flagship event of the cadet calendar, winning 4 medals on the second day alone and jumping into first place on the overall medal table. There is a strong team ethic to be found in the warm-up room, a team spirit in which every member of the team, from athletes to support staff, is fully engaged.
“We are trying to bring a new and different culture where we integrate the two age categories. Marcelo Theotonio was with the young team before but has now moved to seniors and I have been in the role since December. Despite the slightly different remits, we are working closely together to create a clear progression.
I always say that cadets with world medals are already at junior level and juniors with senior medals are already at senior level and so we have to integrate, it makes sense.
In Peru, I’m really proud of our girls on day 2. It’s a phenomenal young generation. They are really mature and so good to work with. I think that when we have so much talent, we mustn’t ruin them, just allow the music to play; our job is partly protection.
Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday, just a year old, and I am here, not in Brazil. I called her but couldn’t be with her and so perhaps I feel like I have a connection with these girls who are away from their fathers. I feel it and it’s special.
I started only in December having retired in 2021. I was an athlete from Flavio Canto’s judo school and then I was a coach for him. I know that in all contexts, club or national team, when we have good people working together we can do special things. There are many factors and so we can’t tell exactly what is making the difference now but it feels good to be part of it. It’s the work of the clubs and the process and the culture in Brazil, a mix of things.
It’s amazing that my first worlds in this new role is in Peru, close to home. It is a huge continent with this Latin American spirit. I’m a little bit afraid of being too public with my feelings but I think if everyone buys into our vision, we can really build something towards our collective dreams. We are here to build idols, judo heroes. Judo has to always be alive, moving and changing and we are ready for that. I work for Brazil and for the CBJ of course but I also work simply for judo.”
Victor and the rest of the Brazilian team are clear that the work already done is paying off but that it is not finished, it is continuous and they will do their best to keep working together for the good of the athletes and the sport.