The Triple World Champion of Veterans, Nelson Onmura Says Goodbye to the Competitive World
The 6th World Veterans Championship was held last week, on September 25th -27th in Malaga, Spain. Among the Brazilian representatives, who won five gold medals, seven silver and five bronze awards, there was also Nelson Onmura. Triple world champion of veterans, the 56 year-old judoka ended his competitive career in this edition. And he ended the competitive cycle very well, as he was silver medaled. Nevertheless, Onmura said he wished he had achieved his goal of becoming a champion for the fourth time.
"I wanted to finish my career as a champion. Even if I did not reach my goal, I got close to the gold medal. I was winning the final fight against a French with a Waza-ari, but I was immobilized in the end from which I could not escape, "he said.
Onmura also said he was satisfied with the result, since in his key there were many experienced athletes. "I'm happy with this silver medal, my key was very complicated, with experienced athletes in competitions. The key had five French athletes, two Russians, a German, a Kazakh, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Dutch and British. I won the first fight against the Spanish as well as the second against the French and the third against the Italian Franco and so I reached the final fight against another Frenchman, when I lost the fight by immobilization, "he said.
Despite saying goodbye to competitions, Onmura will not abandon the mats. The judoka will be still teaching judo, but he says he will miss this competitive environment. "I'm already missing my competitions, but I cannot train anymore, that’s why I’ve decided to stop competing. Now I have to teach my students what I know, "Onmura said. His background is composed of 25 titles as a Brazilian and Paulista champion and a silver award at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis in 1987.
