All in Attitude!
With gray hair, at the age of 39, Yordan Yovchev wrote the history of the Olympic Games in London in 2012. The four-time planetary champion registered a world gymnastics record sixth appearance at the forum under the five interlaced rings. And this fact, apart from a demonstration of iron will, perseverance and deprivation, showed the correct training methodology to maintain such an astonishing level for such a long period of time. The Lord of the Rings was unanimously chosen as the standard bearer of our delegation at the opening of the games in London.
What are the keys to the athlete's success, about the relationship between the coach and the athlete, about the victims, Yordan Yovchev talks for over an hour in the opening first episode of the educational studio of NSC Olimp "We will meet at the top".
"If you are hungry for success, you must exclude everything that hinders you, and to strive to be dedicated and honest. Not to give 60 percent, but to say that you are at 100%. There is no time to waste in sports. You should always want more because someone somewhere is making more.
The most important thing is that the child himself has a desire, being thirsty and hungry, wanting it. Even if someone prevents you, you will succeed.
When I was in my prime, I did all sorts of experiments. And movies have fueled me. You want to look like someone. At three o'clock in the morning I've put on leashes and without lights, in the cold, I've created obstacles for myself to cross.
Maybe someone does and I haven't tried. It's bound to become a duel.
Well, in this case we are not talking about the children. It is important for them to be in a competitive environment and train under good conditions.
"You also have to be stubborn. Be firm that the exercise will not get the better of you, knowing that you will prevail over him.
You have to be persistent. Don't just relax and say to yourself: "Some days I've done a lot, I've covered miles, let me rest!"
Persistence is like the drop. Without losing courage, sooner or later, maybe later, it will happen.
Strength, flexibility, mental toughness are being achieved with persistence. There are specifics in the various sports. It is very important to have the conditions. Don't run from one end of town to the pool, wasting time. You must also have adequate coaches, nutrition, also a psychologist."
Yordan Yovchev is adamant that the coaches must be sure that they are on the same page with the children and the parents. For the champion, the fees paid do not guarantee that the child will become the best.
"Coaches sometimes spare the athletes so they don't run away from them. However, the coach must demand the same from all athletes. He must see the potential strictly individually, and to deploy it. Seeing the athlete, to notice the style and the psyche", explains Yovchev.
Which is more important the training process or the end goal and results? This was one of the main questions for the four-time Olympic medalist, exciting the coaches of NSK Olimp and the viewers of "We will meet at the top."
"The process comes first. You want to become something without walking this path. You can't do it without making a fool of yourself. There is no shortcut. The process builds you as a person, gives you a character. The process develops all the qualities of the athlete," replied the Plovdiv resident, who turned 48 on February 8.
The Sport requires sacrifice and deprivation. And one of the great deprivations is that the competitor will be away from his relatives for a long time. Jugi's take on the subject:
"You have to believe, to be committed, and so do the people around you. You have to approach it adequately and responsibly so that one day you can make these people smile during the time you were not at home."
Yovchev was also asked how the state of the sports base in our country affects the development of our sport.
"You can always do more. I'm not saying there should be 200 pools. It's nice to have more, though. There should be more salons in schools. I see that there is enthusiasm in the sports ministry", commented Yovchev, who is aware of the problem in his capacity as a former deputy sports minister.
The educational show "We'll meet at the top" is being broadcasted twice a month (one week apart) on Wednesday evening at 20:00, live on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
All shows in the series ‘We will meet at the top’ (see here).
