Mistral Janssen won two national titles in 35 days

Somewhat strange the name of Mistral Janssen at the Belgian Championships. He won the Dutch title 35 days ago and today in Herstal he took his second title in practically a month time. We of JudoInside can’t even remember a same situation, so that’s something strange. We spoke Mistral just after his gold at the Belgian Championships.

Janssen, 23 is for Dutch people half Belgian, for Belgian people half Dutch, but formally he is starting up the process to become Belgian and he already had the guarantee he will manage to get it. For now he can compete at the Belgian Championships and qualified via his second place at Flemish Championships, but he wasn’t fit at that moment, too many events in a row. Today in Herstel he had to fight three matches, but came back strongly winning the first Belgian title.

“Actually my semi final against Jelle Hoste was the toughest match today.” In the final he defeated Kristof Timmermans in a revenge match. “To be honest, the Dutch Championships were tougher, today was pretty okay, I had a good day. But also all the respect for the Belgians, they treat me right, they are friendly and they want to help me out with all I need.”

Janssen is a late blower, although he won Dutch Junior titles at the age of 18-19, he comes from the South and was not always able to train near Utrecht in Nieuwegein. He won some medals at Junior European Cups in 2012 in Lyon and Paks and won regional events in Antwerp, Sindelfingen and took silver at this year’s Belgian Open in Visé, not the worst tournament to medal.

In his junior period he fought with guys like Khasan khalmurzaev, Beka Gviniashvili, Aslan Lappinagov, Takanori Nagase and knows what it is to fight top judoka.  “I really admire those guys, especially Russian judoka, I admire their attitude, for instance Khasan, really came from nowhere, such a poor area and they have to fight for money, for their family, for eternal fame so they have the ultimate mentality to perceive and make the best of their careers. I’ve been to Russia twice, fought those guys and I have a huge interest in their style. I’ve had a wonderful time there and likely I speak more Russian words than French in this moment.”

Mistral enjoys judo, but now things are going the right way he gets more ambitious. “In the end I would like to make it to the Olympic Games. Now is the time and I should aim for the biggest thing. I am going to study in Belgium, in 6 months I will finish my study Physiotherapy and then I will do my Master Osteopathy or Sports Fysio therapy in Belgium. I’m trying to get a place in the Flemish area. I have been training in Cologne twice a week and frankly speaking, I wouldn’t come so far if I hadn’t trained in Cologne, this brought me so much further.”

People know Mistral because he always wears his turban winded around his head. “This is to prevent his ears as the cauliflower ears getting worse and worse, so they grow into my ear, and I practically don’t hear anything and don’t want to get it worse.”

Yes but despite my recognizable look I have some good throws, I’m offensive, and I think I have a good knowledge of tactics so that I can make my own game, but still adjusted to each opponent, so make my own game plan with my throws. “

“Today I had to become champion. Maybe the process of becoming Belgian will take a year, but in the end I will get it. In this moment I am Dutch champion and Belgian champion, but as long as I don’t have a license I can’t compete for Belgium and due to all changes in the Netherlands I can’t compete for the Netherlands as well, so I will need to find my way at non IJF events such as the Belgian Open in Visé, European Cups. Pleasure is everything but I need to keep ambitious.”

Watch all results of the Belgian Championships here.