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How a Sensitive Guy Became an Olympic Fighter | Ori Sasson | TEDxWhiteCity


it all started when I was then on my way

it all started when I was then on my way to my first big competition I was

to my first big competition I was

to my first big competition I was sitting in a car and I remember exactly

sitting in a car and I remember exactly

sitting in a car and I remember exactly what I felt I was so nervous I couldn’t

what I felt I was so nervous I couldn’t

what I felt I was so nervous I couldn’t eat and when I was trying to eat a

eat and when I was trying to eat a

eat and when I was trying to eat a banana

banana

banana forgetting some energy I almost vomited

forgetting some energy I almost vomited

forgetting some energy I almost vomited I just wanted to sleep my eyes refuse to

I just wanted to sleep my eyes refuse to

I just wanted to sleep my eyes refuse to be open I told myself oh me why why are

be open I told myself oh me why why are

be open I told myself oh me why why are you doing this to yourself it could be

you doing this to yourself it could be

you doing this to yourself it could be in your house playing the computer

in your house playing the computer

in your house playing the computer playing with your friends or why why you

playing with your friends or why why you

playing with your friends or why why you choose to be here I even prayed to God

choose to be here I even prayed to God

choose to be here I even prayed to God that we would got stuck in traffic so I

that we would got stuck in traffic so I

that we would got stuck in traffic so I would miss my fight

would miss my fight

would miss my fight I guess what in the end we arrived on

I guess what in the end we arrived on

I guess what in the end we arrived on time to tell Mon City and by the way

time to tell Mon City and by the way

time to tell Mon City and by the way until today when I hear the name Timon I

until today when I hear the name Timon I

until today when I hear the name Timon I get chills so we went inside the hole

get chills so we went inside the hole

get chills so we went inside the hole and I saw all the other judo fighters

and I saw all the other judo fighters

and I saw all the other judo fighters preparing for their contest I started to

preparing for their contest I started to

preparing for their contest I started to run

run

run I felt like my legs weight 1,000 kilos

I felt like my legs weight 1,000 kilos

I felt like my legs weight 1,000 kilos when I heard my name on the speakers I

when I heard my name on the speakers I

when I heard my name on the speakers I knew that this is the time to fight

knew that this is the time to fight

knew that this is the time to fight I was nervous too nervous

I was nervous too nervous

I was nervous too nervous many people tell me come on Judah has

many people tell me come on Judah has

many people tell me come on Judah has only 5 minutes long it’s not so hard but

only 5 minutes long it’s not so hard but

only 5 minutes long it’s not so hard but I’m telling you they wrong because

I’m telling you they wrong because

I’m telling you they wrong because during those 5 minutes your heart which

during those 5 minutes your heart which

during those 5 minutes your heart which races to 200 beats per minute you lose

races to 200 beats per minute you lose

races to 200 beats per minute you lose feelings in your arms and legs sometimes

feelings in your arms and legs sometimes

feelings in your arms and legs sometimes your visions go black from all the

your visions go black from all the

your visions go black from all the effort of fighting with all that you

effort of fighting with all that you

effort of fighting with all that you must stay come make the right decisions

must stay come make the right decisions

must stay come make the right decisions and beat your opponent or else face the

and beat your opponent or else face the

and beat your opponent or else face the shame of losing in front of your coach

shame of losing in front of your coach

shame of losing in front of your coach and your family that sounds like a lot

and your family that sounds like a lot

and your family that sounds like a lot of pressure huh so I won the first fight

of pressure huh so I won the first fight

of pressure huh so I won the first fight but it wasn’t so strong then I lost the

but it wasn’t so strong then I lost the

but it wasn’t so strong then I lost the second meaning I was out from the tomb

second meaning I was out from the tomb

second meaning I was out from the tomb from the tournament the competition was

from the tournament the competition was

from the tournament the competition was over to be honest I was relieved on the

over to be honest I was relieved on the

over to be honest I was relieved on the way back home I felt ashamed I felt like

way back home I felt ashamed I felt like

way back home I felt ashamed I felt like I don’t belong to this sport I told

I don’t belong to this sport I told

I don’t belong to this sport I told myself and this is not my style this is

myself and this is not my style this is

myself and this is not my style this is not me many people from the judo said oh

not me many people from the judo said oh

not me many people from the judo said oh he is a talented judo player but is also

he is a talented judo player but is also

he is a talented judo player but is also a quitter I was insulted hearing this

a quitter I was insulted hearing this

a quitter I was insulted hearing this sentence over and over again

sentence over and over again

sentence over and over again but command to be honest it made sense

but command to be honest it made sense

but command to be honest it made sense it made sense because I lost big

it made sense because I lost big

it made sense because I lost big competitions all the time it happened

competitions all the time it happened

competitions all the time it happened when I was 12 when I was 15 when I was

when I was 12 when I was 15 when I was

when I was 12 when I was 15 when I was 20 and even three years ago when I was

20 and even three years ago when I was

20 and even three years ago when I was competing in the world champion in Rio

competing in the world champion in Rio

competing in the world champion in Rio but not that Rio the other Rio

but not that Rio the other Rio

but not that Rio the other Rio I trained a lot for this event I felt in

I trained a lot for this event I felt in

I trained a lot for this event I felt in the best shape of my life running weight

the best shape of my life running weight

the best shape of my life running weight judo I won the first fight then I had to

judo I won the first fight then I had to

judo I won the first fight then I had to face with a big challenge my mother from

face with a big challenge my mother from

face with a big challenge my mother from Azerbaijan he ranked first in the world

Azerbaijan he ranked first in the world

Azerbaijan he ranked first in the world and it was my chance to prove all those

and it was my chance to prove all those

and it was my chance to prove all those coaches wrong

coaches wrong

coaches wrong the fight started

the fight started

the fight started and I felt so strong I hold him like he

and I felt so strong I hold him like he

and I felt so strong I hold him like he was a kid he didn’t know what to do I

was a kid he didn’t know what to do I

was a kid he didn’t know what to do I even threw him twice by Yuko which meant

even threw him twice by Yuko which meant

even threw him twice by Yuko which meant 20 points for me he was helpless the

20 points for me he was helpless the

20 points for me he was helpless the time showed one minute to the end and

time showed one minute to the end and

time showed one minute to the end and then I told myself wow I’m going to beat

then I told myself wow I’m going to beat

then I told myself wow I’m going to beat the number one judo player in the world

the number one judo player in the world

the number one judo player in the world then suddenly I start scared because I

then suddenly I start scared because I

then suddenly I start scared because I never been a desperate dispositions I

never been a desperate dispositions I

never been a desperate dispositions I always want the average judo cos that’s

always want the average judo cos that’s

always want the average judo cos that’s when negative feelings began to creep in

when negative feelings began to creep in

when negative feelings began to creep in slowly it first and then quickly until I

slowly it first and then quickly until I

slowly it first and then quickly until I lost my mind it was like he smelled my

lost my mind it was like he smelled my

lost my mind it was like he smelled my feelings so we throw me hard and gain

feelings so we throw me hard and gain

feelings so we throw me hard and gain the leading points judo is like a jungle

the leading points judo is like a jungle

the leading points judo is like a jungle the moment you show weakness you’re done

the moment you show weakness you’re done

the moment you show weakness you’re done with 30 seconds to the end it was my

with 30 seconds to the end it was my

with 30 seconds to the end it was my last chance to throw him back so I ran

last chance to throw him back so I ran

last chance to throw him back so I ran toward him angry I grabbed his judogi

toward him angry I grabbed his judogi

toward him angry I grabbed his judogi lifted him up with all my might and snap

lifted him up with all my might and snap

lifted him up with all my might and snap I broke my wrist

I broke my wrist

I broke my wrist I was the loser again as I was lying in

I was the loser again as I was lying in

I was the loser again as I was lying in the hospital I watched on TV as my

the hospital I watched on TV as my

the hospital I watched on TV as my opponent won the final match my mother

opponent won the final match my mother

opponent won the final match my mother became the world champion I couldn’t

became the world champion I couldn’t

became the world champion I couldn’t believe it happened I was lying there

believe it happened I was lying there

believe it happened I was lying there with a broken hand it was my chance I

with a broken hand it was my chance I

with a broken hand it was my chance I was leading until the end how did I let

was leading until the end how did I let

was leading until the end how did I let it go I’m telling you at that moment a

it go I’m telling you at that moment a

it go I’m telling you at that moment a lot of Tears

lot of Tears

lot of Tears on the way back home I took a piece of

on the way back home I took a piece of

on the way back home I took a piece of paper and a pen and I wrote my feelings

paper and a pen and I wrote my feelings

paper and a pen and I wrote my feelings I wrote I’m not going to be a loser

I wrote I’m not going to be a loser

I wrote I’m not going to be a loser anymore I’m going to change my life and

anymore I’m going to change my life and

anymore I’m going to change my life and I’m going to show everyone how to do it

I’m going to show everyone how to do it

I’m going to show everyone how to do it how I’m going to do it so I kept writing

how I’m going to do it so I kept writing

how I’m going to do it so I kept writing cause writing has me to explore my

cause writing has me to explore my

cause writing has me to explore my emotions and here’s what I discovered I

emotions and here’s what I discovered I

emotions and here’s what I discovered I can be a sensitive guy but still

can be a sensitive guy but still

can be a sensitive guy but still maintain focus without letting my

maintain focus without letting my

maintain focus without letting my emotions control me how did I do this

emotions control me how did I do this

emotions control me how did I do this so first I have to be patient because

so first I have to be patient because

so first I have to be patient because it’s taking time to change second I told

it’s taking time to change second I told

it’s taking time to change second I told myself over and over again that my

myself over and over again that my

myself over and over again that my feelings are natural because probably

feelings are natural because probably

feelings are natural because probably all the other Dula fighters feel fear

all the other Dula fighters feel fear

all the other Dula fighters feel fear and doubts it’s okay to feel that way

and doubts it’s okay to feel that way

and doubts it’s okay to feel that way when I feel fear and doubt I train

when I feel fear and doubt I train

when I feel fear and doubt I train myself to control it the third and maybe

myself to control it the third and maybe

myself to control it the third and maybe the most important thing I did was

the most important thing I did was

the most important thing I did was accept myself as a sensitive guy I will

accept myself as a sensitive guy I will

accept myself as a sensitive guy I will always be when I feel pressure I’m not

always be when I feel pressure I’m not

always be when I feel pressure I’m not hard on myself and saying okay maybe

hard on myself and saying okay maybe

hard on myself and saying okay maybe today if a little weak it’s okay just do

today if a little weak it’s okay just do

today if a little weak it’s okay just do your best so I found out what makes me

your best so I found out what makes me

your best so I found out what makes me calm and then I realized that when I’m

calm and then I realized that when I’m

calm and then I realized that when I’m not nervous I can focus on winning

not nervous I can focus on winning

not nervous I can focus on winning that’s when something incredible

that’s when something incredible

that’s when something incredible happened I start winning more when I

happened I start winning more when I

happened I start winning more when I arrive to the Olympic Village in Rio I

arrive to the Olympic Village in Rio I

arrive to the Olympic Village in Rio I saw all the athletes look emotional and

saw all the athletes look emotional and

saw all the athletes look emotional and nervous you could see it in their faces

nervous you could see it in their faces

nervous you could see it in their faces but I felt completely present and come

but I felt completely present and come

but I felt completely present and come the 12th of August was a special day for

the 12th of August was a special day for

the 12th of August was a special day for me 8 o clock in the morning I woke up I

me 8 o clock in the morning I woke up I

me 8 o clock in the morning I woke up I went to the mirror and it almost of

went to the mirror and it almost of

went to the mirror and it almost of early today is your day today are going

early today is your day today are going

early today is your day today are going to give everything you have no matter

to give everything you have no matter

to give everything you have no matter what I wanted this matters so bad the

what I wanted this matters so bad the

what I wanted this matters so bad the bus arrived and remember the things I

bus arrived and remember the things I

bus arrived and remember the things I had when I was 10 on my way to Thurmond

had when I was 10 on my way to Thurmond

had when I was 10 on my way to Thurmond guess what same feelings were there what

guess what same feelings were there what

guess what same feelings were there what was different is that now I have the

was different is that now I have the

was different is that now I have the tools I have to manage those those

tools I have to manage those those

tools I have to manage those those feelings and focus on winning so in the

feelings and focus on winning so in the

feelings and focus on winning so in the competition and one three fights lost in

competition and one three fights lost in

competition and one three fights lost in the semi-final and then it was my last

the semi-final and then it was my last

the semi-final and then it was my last chance to bring an Olympic medal

chance to bring an Olympic medal

chance to bring an Olympic medal backstage I was looking at my Cuban

backstage I was looking at my Cuban

backstage I was looking at my Cuban opponent in the eyes and I felt like the

opponent in the eyes and I felt like the

opponent in the eyes and I felt like the entire country of Israel is on my

entire country of Israel is on my

entire country of Israel is on my shoulders but I also felt motivated

shoulders but I also felt motivated

shoulders but I also felt motivated because ten minutes from now and I can

because ten minutes from now and I can

because ten minutes from now and I can change my whole life I can be an Olympic

change my whole life I can be an Olympic

change my whole life I can be an Olympic medalist so as you all know it was a

medalist so as you all know it was a

medalist so as you all know it was a tough fight but I want the title and I

tough fight but I want the title and I

tough fight but I want the title and I was so happy I felt like in a dream

was so happy I felt like in a dream

was so happy I felt like in a dream look three years ago I was in a hospital

look three years ago I was in a hospital

look three years ago I was in a hospital in Rio with a broken hand now I’m the

in Rio with a broken hand now I’m the

in Rio with a broken hand now I’m the most happiest person also in Rio the

most happiest person also in Rio the

most happiest person also in Rio the first water said right after a match to

first water said right after a match to

first water said right after a match to the TV news well today I overcome all

the TV news well today I overcome all

the TV news well today I overcome all over my fears and doubts so we I am

over my fears and doubts so we I am

over my fears and doubts so we I am always a Sun I’m actually a big guy as

always a Sun I’m actually a big guy as

always a Sun I’m actually a big guy as you can see 193 centimeters tall 125

you can see 193 centimeters tall 125

you can see 193 centimeters tall 125 kilograms and now you know my Luke is

kilograms and now you know my Luke is

kilograms and now you know my Luke is not the homie I’m actually a sensitive

not the homie I’m actually a sensitive

not the homie I’m actually a sensitive person and I’m feeling a lot of strong

person and I’m feeling a lot of strong

person and I’m feeling a lot of strong emotions all the time but in my life I

emotions all the time but in my life I

emotions all the time but in my life I discover that if I connect to those

discover that if I connect to those

discover that if I connect to those emotions and embrace them I can be

emotions and embrace them I can be

emotions and embrace them I can be successful the world judo means the

successful the world judo means the

successful the world judo means the gentle way in Japanese this is my way

gentle way in Japanese this is my way

gentle way in Japanese this is my way and I hope you make it your way too

and I hope you make it your way too

and I hope you make it your way too thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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