In this episode of Changemakers of Uzbekistan, we meet Diyora Keldiyorova, the Olympic judo champion whose historic gold medal win is transforming the perception of women in sports.
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00:00I was very happy when I won the gold medal in Paris.
00:06I cannot explain these words, it was amazing feelings and after the final match I said to myself, I did it.
00:19I was very happy because long time, I see 20 years I train with judo, that's why it was my dream
00:29and my dream come true and I was so happy.
00:33Judo is not easy, every time you can see in the outside it's like some throws, it's like easy but it's not easy.
00:39You have to be strong in physical and mental and psychology also, everything.
00:46Sometimes you're going up, sometimes going down, it's like this and you know if it's going down it's also process
00:54and never give up, you have to try.
00:57It doesn't matter in the sport or in the life or in the study and I learned this from judo.
01:03I take some injuries, five months before I won the games I get injury from my left knee.
01:10It was not serious but I have to out one month and then when I come back after the one month,
01:18I lost my old tactics, old techniques.
01:21You know you train every day two times and you cannot train one month.
01:26Before the Olympic Games it was very stress but my staff, my team, my coaches every time support me
01:34and they help me, they believe me and I think we did it together with my team.
01:47When I stay podium in Paris, I feel so nice emotions.
01:53I cannot explain but this time before Paris I think why Olympic gold medalist they won second time,
02:01third time or first time, why they tried because it's too hard.
02:05I think only once maybe enough and then when I stay podium I said I want to feel it one more.
02:13It's amazing feeling you know.
02:16When you stay in the podium, when everybody cheer for you and you listen, you heard Olympic champion,
02:24it's like Diora killed Diora, it's amazing feeling.
02:27I said I want to try one more and I want to feel it one more, you know.
02:32Usually I do in the morning judo training or technique, tactics.
02:37Afternoon if I have, it depends of competition.
02:41If I have competitions, we train a lot of rounderies, a lot of roundery sessions.
02:46If not, we have some physical preparation.
02:50It depends from the competition.
02:52Our coaches they will send our friend for week and for month and for year.
02:58Last five, six years we call from the Europe, some coaches from the Japan
03:04and step by step it's our judo team going up and you can see in the Olympics we won three medals,
03:11two bronze, one gold.
03:13It's amazing, I think it's big honor for me represent to Uzbekistan in the world
03:18because when I fight in the competitions, I feel my parents, my home crowd with me
03:28and it's big honor for me and every time I try to make home crowd to be happy.
03:39My goal is LA 2028 and we opened a few days ago my club, step by step going up.
03:50I think I want to make one of the best club in the world.
03:54After my winning in Paris, totally changed mind the women and families for sport
04:02because before they think about the judo, they think judo is not for women,
04:08women is not for fight, something like this.
04:11But now, I opened my club one week ago, I think 30 or 40 girls in my club they start to train.
04:21I will say to young girls, believe to yourself every time, doesn't matter how hard,
04:29some problems or some challenges, every time believe yourself.
04:34This is important in your life, in the sport, in the study, everywhere.
04:39Sometimes Uzbek girls have some mentality, you are woman, you are girl, you cannot do it,
04:45you are placed only in the kitchen.
04:47That's why when you believe yourself and you know your power and you can do what you want,
04:54if you believe yourself.