As the medal results roll in from Tokyo and the numbers are tallied, it’s important to remember that just to participate in the Olympic Games is a goal few athletes ever achieve. As a fan of judo, high-level human achievement and elite athletes, I thought it would be helpful to gain some wisdom from a real Olympian.
Enter Nefeli Papadakis, who, at 22, is the youngest member of the USA Judo team. Papadakis is from Gurnee, Illinois, and started judo at age 4. She’s coached by her father Steve Papadakis, and the two have been on the long road to the Olympics together.
Do you have any pre-match rituals?
Before my matches, I try to stay calm and just tell myself my strategy over and over in my head. Also,…
