Case study
Case study of top overseas judo athletes through interviews: the thoughts and characteristics of Igor Makarov, Gold Medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics
2023 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 59-69
Details
2023 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 59-69
For many judo coaches in Japan, it is important to understand how top foreign judo athletes think and what their specific characteristics are, both of which are rarely known and understood. This allows judo coaches to recognize that there is a wide variety of judo athletes, each with their own unique characteristics. For Japanese judo coaches, this deepens their understanding of the sport and leads to an enhancement in their coaching prowess. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain the insights of Igor Makarov, a gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, to clarify the thoughts and characteristics of a top judo athlete from overseas. The following are the questions and answers this study addressed:
1. “What made you a top athlete?” Makarov answered, “I had the desire to be a top athlete from the very beginning, and I was determined to win against my peers and rivals.”
2. “Tell me about a time when your ability improved significantly.” Makarov answered: “I won the Under-21 European Championships at the age of 19, which gave me a lot of confidence. Whether you will live as a sportsman or an ordinary judo enthusiast depends on whether you can stand firm at around the age of 18 or not.”
3. “Did you ever have a period when you could not win matches or fell into a slump? How did you respond and get back up during a slump?” Makarov answered: “Whenever I lost, I needed to think about the reason why. There is always a problem within yourself.”
4. “Do you have a role model whose techniques you would like to try?” Makarov answered: “I watched videos of various athletes and gradually adopted their techniques.”
5. “What do you think is necessary to become a top athlete?” Makarov answered: “Most importantly, find the challenge yourself, and find the answer. Repeat this process. If you want to win, focus on one goal and go for it.”
Based on the above, we believe that in order to become a top judo athlete, one must have: “A strong desire to win,” “Produce results by the deadline,” “The ability to face oneself,” “An insatiable desire to improve and a high level of observational skills,” and “Can act proactively with clear goals.” The ability to execute these at a high level is considered necessary.
