Darcel Yandzi - At The Age Of 9 I Started Judo To Reach The Top Level, Today It Has Become My Job (Athletic, France)

I have always wanted to do more than the others, since I was little I did my judo lessons and no longer the adults' lessons, if I was not on the carpet I was on the chair to observe and take inspiration from others

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

At the age of 7 I arrived from Congo Brazzaville in France. At the age of 9 I started judo to reach the top level, today it has become my job.

2. How did you get introduced to Judo?

My cousin's friend invited me to come and attend these judo lessons, I immediately liked it but with my money I could not register, until the day my future teacher gave me a kimono and I never left the mat again.

3. How did you decide to make your passion your career? Was your family supportive? 

My parents lived in Africa and I lived in France with my uncle, he didn't encourage me much but my parents always did it despite the distance, by phone or by letter.

4. Who is your favourite mixed martial artist and what have you learnt from him/her? 

Mohamed ali

He taught me that no matter where I come from, if I believe in myself and if I work hard I can make the impossible just a formality.

5. What is the level of commitment and time required to make a sport a career? 

I have always wanted to do more than the others, since I was little I did my judo lessons and no longer the adults' lessons, if I was not on the carpet I was on the chair to observe and take inspiration from others, I would not never miss a court sacrifices and tears that I shed deprive me of going to see my parents in Africa so as not to miss an internship (the lack was terrible) at 15 years old I had undergone a knee operation, the doctors told me that I won't be able to run or do judo again but I persisted until I tampered with my medical certificates to get back on a mat, it changed my life because I was hungry and judo was a way out. I worked hard to do this as impossible as possible.

6. Tell us about your experience in the Summer Olympics 1996. 

The Olympic games are a horrible memory for me because from my young age I won practically everything until senior, I was predestined to be Olympic champion but unfortunately the competition in France was very tough. Car accident, injury after injury , lack of wisdom and an incomprehensible system with me, I had to lose my number place to Djamel Bourras who would later become Olympic champion by beating the great koga. 

I fought to get back to the top by fulfilling all the criteria required to be selected for the Olympic Games champion of France, winner of the tournament in Paris by beating my rival squall but that was not enough to tip the scales on my side so I did the games in the upper category. difficult to gain mass I was selecting in -86kg and replacing in -78kg. I finished 7th losing in the quarter-finals against the Japanese yoshida and the Romanian coitouru. I took years to digest it all.

7. What are the difficulties being a judo coach.

The difficulty of being a coach. It is to adapt with each athlete, to create an environment to make them grow sporty and humanly if we have understood that then we can change lives.

8.What are your greatest achievements in this field ?

My achievements are 18 years old to be world and European junior champion and at the same time European champion and bronze medal at the senior world championship

9.How can we encourage more youngsters to take up sports as a full time profession? 

Make young people understand that sport can change their life and that of others, it can be a way out for some. Sport helps to face certain difficulties in life, it's a savoir vivre

10. Which is your favourite book and why?

My favorite book is the bible, because I believe in God and without him I am nothing.

- Darcel Yandzi

I was born on June 11, 1973 in Brazzaville, I am a French 6th Dan judoka. In 1993 I won the European Judo Championship when I was only 19 years old. The same year I finished 3rd in the World Judo Championships. This precocity record was broken by Teddy Riner in 2007.

I was the national coach of Great Britain

National coach of Scotland.

national coach of the france team

with teddy riner, Cyril marret, ugo Legrand.

- Interviewed By Pearlina Marie Rein