Seija Ballhaus Secures Historic Judo Gold at European Championships
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Podgorica, Montenegro – Seija Ballhaus clinched the gold medal in the lightweight division at the European Judo Championships last Thursday, marking the end of a nearly half-century-long wait for Germany in that weight class.The victory, in the under-57 kilogram category, represents a significant milestone for the German Judo Association.
Ballhaus Reflects on Unexpected Victory
In a recent interview,Ballhaus,24,discussed her surprise at defeating a familiar rival in the final,the challenges of comparisons with her twin sister,and the unexpected welcome she received upon returning to Munich.
Question: Ms. Ballhaus, congratulations on your two medals! Where you greeted by a welcoming party upon your arrival in Munich?
Seija ballhaus: Yes, I was met by members of the Bavarian Judo Association and my training group. They had flowers and homemade signs that read, “Welcome, European champion!” I honestly didn’t anticipate it. It was a marvelous feeling, and I was very happy to see them.
“More Gorgeous Than Expected”
Question: How does it feel to have a suitcase heavier due to the weight of two medals?
Ballhaus: I am simply overjoyed. I had put in a lot of effort beforehand, and I was persistent to return home with a medal. The fact that it turned out to be the gold medal, and that we also secured third place in the team event, made it even more beautiful than I had anticipated.
realizing the Historic Meaning
Question: You’ve won the first German gold in the under-57 kilo class in 47 years. Have you begun to grasp the past significance of your achievement?
Ballhaus: It’s becoming more real. I was still caught up in the European Championship atmosphere for the past few days,spending each day at the venue. I didn’t have time to fully process everything until Sunday, during the team competition. Now, I’m starting to realize what I’ve accomplished, and I feel incredibly happy and proud.
“Years of Hard Work Paid Off”
Question: Do you recall what was going through your mind when your victory in the final became clear?
Ballhaus: at that moment, my mind went blank. I was just extremely relieved that our strategy had worked so well. I’ve fought the georgian, Liipientiani, about ten times already. She’s very strong, and the last few encounters didn’t go well for me. That’s why it was even more significant that I was able to win the final. Standing on the podium with the gold medal around my neck,I just thought,”Wow,all the hard work of recent years has paid off.”
Question: Looking back at the final fight, what was the key to your success?
Ballhaus: Georgian judo fighters tend to get very close and attempt lifting techniques. Thus, it was crucial for me to maintain distance and prevent her from getting to close. This worked well until I managed to score about halfway through the fight. The plan then was to maintain that led for the remaining two minutes and prevent her from closing in.That was the main factor in securing the victory. I was able to execute the strategy we had discussed beforehand. Of my four fights leading to the title, I felt the most focused in the final.
Mixed Team Event and Sisterly Support
Question: In the mixed team event, you lost to liiparteliani. Were you running out of steam?
Ballhaus: The fight started, and I almost lost within the first 15 seconds. she surprised me with a direct attack, and I made a mistake, landing directly on my back. That was disappointing because I would have liked to win again and confirm my European Championship title. But it’s better this way than the other way around.
question: Your twin sister, Mascha, who competes in a different weight class, has been somewhat more successful. What does she say about you surpassing her with the European Championship gold?
Ballhaus: I think it’s always challenging to compare us as we compete in different weight classes. Because she won a world Cup medal and competed at the Olympic Games,one might say she has been more successful so far. I don’t think you can definitively say who is better or worse. In any case, she was very happy for me and has always been very supportive. She knows how narrowly I missed Olympic qualification, and she wholeheartedly congratulates me on the title.
Eyes on the 2028 olympic Games
Question: Are you now looking towards Los Angeles and the 2028 Olympic Games, or is that still too far away?
Ballhaus: It’s still three years away, but of course, I have it in sight. Qualification will only begin next year, but the European Championship victory gives me a lot of confidence. Success like this motivates you to strive for more.
Question: do you also dream of becoming an Olympic champion?
ballhaus: Absolutely! I think every athlete shares that dream.
here’s a Q&A style blog post crafted from the provided article, prioritizing user engagement, E-E-A-T, SEO, and structured for readability:
Seija Ballhaus: Conquering Judo History and Setting Olympic Dreams
Seija Ballhaus isn’t just a name; it’s a symbol of perseverance, precision, and the sweet taste of victory. At the European Judo Championships in Podgorica, Montenegro, ballhaus etched her name into the history books. Let’s delve deeper into her momentous achievement, her reflections, and her future aspirations.
Q: Congratulations, Seija! Can you tell us about your incredible achievement at the European Judo Championships?
A: Thank you! It was an incredible experience.Clinching the gold medal in the lightweight division felt like a dream come true. What makes it even more special is that it ended a nearly half-century-long wait for Germany in that weight class. It’s a significant milestone for the German Judo Association, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of it.
Q: You mentioned the historical meaning. did you immediately grasp the weight of your accomplishment in winning the first german gold in the under-57kg class in 47 years?
A: It’s becoming more real with each passing day. While I was still wrapped up in the excitement of the European Championship, fully comprehending the magnitude took some time. I had the time to reflect during the team competition on Sunday.Now that I am starting to fully appreciate what I have accomplished,and I feel immense happiness and a sense of pride.
Q: What was it like returning home to Munich after such a triumphant victory?
A: It was absolutely amazing! I was met by the Bavarian judo Association and my training group at the airport. They had flowers and signs saying, “Welcome, European champion!” I honestly didn’t expect such a warm reception. It was a marvelous and incredibly heart-warming feeling.
Q: You mentioned the training – what was the specific strategy that helped you secure the gold medal in the final?
A: My strategy was centered around controlling the distance and avoiding her close-range attacks and lifting techniques. Georgian judo fighters like my opponent, Liipientiani, tend to get really close. We worked out a plan to maintain distance, and it worked. By managing to score about halfway through the fight– the plan was to maintain that lead for the remaining two minutes. I knew I needed to prevent her from getting in close. I felt the most focused in this final.
Q: Tell us a bit about the final match. You’ve faced Liipientiani before.What made this match different?
A: I had fought Liipientiani, the Georgian judoka, about ten times previously. She’s very strong, and the last few encounters hadn’t gone very well for me. In that moment, my mind went blank. I was just extremely relieved that our strategy had worked so well. That’s why winning the final was even more meaningful. Standing on the podium with the gold medal around my neck, I thought, “Wow, all the hard work of recent years has paid off.”
Q: How did it feel to also secure a third-place position in the Team Event?
A: I was simply overjoyed! I had put in a lot of hard work beforehand, and I was determined and persistent to go home with a medal.the fact that it turned out to be the gold medal,and that we also secured third place in the team event,made it even more beautiful than I had anticipated.
Q: what’s next for the team event?
A: Unfortunately, in the mixed team event, I lost a match. I almost lost within the first 15 seconds. She(Liiparteliani) surprised me with a direct attack. I had to make a mistake and land directly on my back. it was disappointing because I would have liked to win again and confirm my European Championship title. But I’ve also learned that it’s better this way than the other way around.
Q: Your twin sister, Mascha, is also a successful judoka. How did she react to your victory?
A: Competing in different weight classes always makes comparisons tough. Since she’s won a World cup medal and competed in the Olympic Games so far, it might be said that she’s been more successful. In any case, she was incredibly happy and supportive. She knows how close I came to missing out on Olympic qualification,and she wholeheartedly congratulated me.
Q: Now that you have the title, are you thinking toward the 2028 Olympic Games in los Angeles?
A: It’s still three years away, but of course, I have it in my sights. Qualification will begin in the next year, but the European Championship victory gives me significant confidence. Success like this motivates you to strive for more.
Q: Does the goal of being an Olympic champion burn brightly within you?
A: Absolutely! I think every athlete shares that dream.
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