Almost more then a week ago Séverine Nebie reminded me how we cried together 4 years ago when we both lost for gold on The World Games in Cali. Now in 2017 i went home without the gold again. But this time i didnot cry. And i am not saying i lost gold, because i am not a loser. I won silver, i choose to win!
So my dream of winning The World Games did not came true. I have won everything in my life some titles even more then once or twice. I did fighting and i did duo. I even had several duo partners. Yet in my final year i still learned so many things. A real champion is never too good to learn.
In duo the referees decide who will be the happiest by the end of the day. It can change just as people can change. But i will not let someone else decide about my happiness.
There are no words needed when the coach of your opponent makes a deep bow for you eventhough you lost.
I am proud of my friends, family, fans and of course my teammates and coaches. Together we acted like champions. Thank you all
Een paar bijzondere reacties op Social Media:
Michael Halpern-Nadel, Danmark: It’s been awesome competing against you. And yes, even if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter if you gave it all you could. The journey is just as important as the result. It all helps us grow
Wim Vogelzang: Prachtige woorden komen alleen van grote mensen.
Bedankt voor heel veel mooie momenten.
Michele Vallieri, Italy: My friend, You are and you Will be a part of the history of jujitsu. Gold or silver or bronze or nothing doesn’t matter, the most important thing are our spirit, our soul and our friendship that Will be forever. And a champion is not just Who win the Gold,it is who can ispire and give something expecial to the other. Thank you to be part of the game near to me… thank you to give me te possibility to say: I Was compeeting in the time of Lions, in the time of Ruben Assmann
Sara Paganini, Italy: You are always Ruben Assmann for me… doesn’t matter the color of the medal… and when I speak to my students about the great champion that I have the honor to met in my carrier, you are always inside my story ☺️. I respect you a lot, and I’m your big fan.
Robert Horak, Coach Austria: You are a great great Person. It was always hard and a great honor to compete against you.