Double world champion Daria Bilodid still a teen

Daria Bilodid celebrated her 19th birthday on Thursday and can look back at an excellent year where she periodised her schedule. Still she had the time to do some of her favourites things outside judo and suffered one loss only. It turned out to be a very useful loss and in Tokyo where the pressure was at the highest level, again she defeated the Japanese opposition. Bilodid captured her greatest gift with a second world title. She promotes cars these days and started her driving lessons. The dream continues, to win Olympic gold.

Eurosport had a day with Daria Bilodid and enjoyed a 24 hour stay. “I like all in my life. Of course it’s difficult, because we have strong trainings but I like it and I’ve chosen this way of living.”

“Of course I always control my weight… it’s difficult because sometimes you want to eat more food, and maybe not only healthy food but… (I) always control!”

“If I have goals I must stay strong and… now I have concentration only for trainings and it’s my life, I’m happy!”

“When I was 6 years I said to my mum [smiling]: ‘Mum, please, I want to train, please can I try?’ and I tried and I fell in love with this sport and now I can’t imagine my life without judo…”

 “I remember when I was 7, everyday I was thinking about my future medals, about World Champs, I don’t know why, but I had big dreams when I was a child…”

“I study in University, because my life is not only judo, my life is also some kind of lessons, learning some languages. I learn English and Italian. It’s very important because I have many friends from different countries, so for me it’s very interesting also”

While showing her best medals: “This is the most beautiful from Paris. Paris Grand Slam, it is the best medal! And this medal is from the World Championships, the most important in my life”

“My parents, who are my coaches, told me ‘You must go to walk the dog! It’s good for your health! Because every days can be only trainings-home-trainings-home! You must breathe fresh air… but feel very good after spa centre. My body is very tired every day because we have very strong trainings so for me it’s a very good recovery. It’s not only hard work, sometimes you can have some rest and relax, things like this. Sauna is the best recovery!”

“I know that many people, the same age of me, can go out very often, almost every day but I never think that I want the same life. I have special goals in my life, I don’t live just for nothing. I have dreams, I am sure that I can do it, I can do everything if I want it!”

Daria celebrated her birthday in Rome where this week the OTC is held. Judo is a way of living.