SPORT / SPORTS
right support pillar and are always drawn to proper val- ues. I think that’s what characterised us and that’s why I’m so proud that one taekwondo club in Serbia has four Olympic medals. That is the fruit of our effort, work, de- sire and love for the sport. We wouldn’t have succeeded without our families and the people who love us. I’ve be- lieved in what we were doing for so many years. None of this was in vain.” Analysing the day that she became champion, she stressed that there was no relaxing, that she didn’t even try to relax… “I just thought, “This is it. I’m already familiar with this. You’ve already been in the finals of the Olympic Games!” I tried to utilise that experience from London to my ad- vantage. I enjoyed that pressure in a way. I knew what awaited me, both when I returned to the village and when I came home. We achieved a phenomenal success and I actually managed to ensure that the final was the easi- est battle for me.” Milica endured many sleepless nights during prepa- rations for her third Olympics. “There are always nerves and I don’t sleep at night before a competition, especially before the most impor- tant competitions. The games are once in four years and I really couldn't afford for mounting pressure to make me miss an opportunity like this. I’ve always felt the greatest nervousness before the first fight. That moment when I’m warming up and preparing to go out onto the fight mat for the first time - is always the toughest.” Since Rio, Milica has been picturing only one image in her head - singing the national anthem on the podi- um, with a gold medal around her neck. “Visualisation is a very important part of our work. I spent most of the competition imagining what I need to do, how everything should look. I have a picture in my head of what I would like everything to look like, how to execute the fight, how to end the day. I went through every fight in my head so many times, so I tried not to do an- ything more with that, but just to have my own routine by which I live. I was certain of every blow that needed to be performed and every part that needed to be fulfilled, which is an integral part of preparations.” It was difficult in Tokyo, but there have been plenty of ups and downs during Milica's career. It is easy for us just to see the good things at the end, but only Mandić and her team know everything that they went through in order to twice reach Olympic gold together. “I don't think anyone would ever say that Olympic gold can be repeated after nine years, but I can state un- reservedly that last year was one of the most difficult years due to the postponement of the Games. I found that very difficult in the beginning; it took me a little while to learn to deal with that and accept what was happening. To wait another year. But that’s something that sport has also taught me, to accept such situations and carry on.” After everything she’s gone through, Milica had some- thing that she wanted to say:
Ponosna sam kada čujem da je neko zbog mene počeo da trenira tekvondo. Trudim se da propagiram prave vrednosti I’m proud when I hear that someone started training taekwondo because of me. I strive to propagate proper values
“I dedicate this medal to the people who love me and who follow us. No matter how happy I am because of this success, I think the most beautiful part is returning home. To those who are there and were there when it wasn't so good and now when it's the most beautiful. I dedicate it to all of those who are with us. Thank you all!” Thank you, Milica…
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