Asley Gonzalez is on his way back after injury

Former World Champion Asley Gonzalez spoke after a year off the tatami from a shoulder injury. Sitting among the audience spectating the National Championships in Deportiva, Gonzalez (90kg) looks like a veteran. He had hair that was grew down beyond his chin, and a beard, scruffy and unruly. All of this hair couldn't hide the smile of the former World Champion and his craving to return to the mat after being sidelined for a year.

After surgery, how long did you have to wait before you started training again?

After a week, I started training again. Nothing hard, just technical training. It hasn't been six months since the surgery, which happened in Brazil on November 20th. My labrum (cartilage) was torn and a bone fragment from the scapula torn away. Due to the severity of the injury, I had to start training slowly and then gradually work my way up to elite training.

After your surgery, why didn't you compete right away?

Like I said, it is best to not rush my healing process. Maybe in two months, I will be able to compete again to seek qualification for the Pan-American Games in Toronto.

What has been the hardest obstacle this past year?

Undoubtlely, the emotional aspect of recovering and being sidelined is the hardest part. To want to fight but cannot, that is a huge blow to my well-being. Also, knowing that if I had competed without being 100%, I could have won some of the tournaments that I couldn't participate in. Being off the mat for over a year, your position on the World Ranking List obviously has been affected.

Do you think you could work your way back on top, as you were before?

In this case, it is complicated. For example, right now I have zero points towards Olympic qualification (the first 100% event was the Havana Grand Prix in June). However, I think with patience, while competing in two or three events to gain mental and physical confidence, I will be able to do it. This is what is most important to me, confidence.

And in your division, 90kg, there are many high-quality opponents…

My rivals and I are basically the same, we are judokas that focus on polishing our own abilities. Believe it or not, my injury has helped me to improve and strengthen my other arm with tactics. Is your goal of winning the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016 still preserved? Yes, my goal and dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in Rio remains the same, with an arm or without one! (laughs)