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Loves hummus and trains with the national team: the most patriotic Puerto Rican judoka you'll know | Israel Hayom

2023-05-09T15:26:07.223Z

Highlights: Adrian Gandia is training with the Israeli judo team at the Wingate Institute. He is preparing for his second consecutive Olympics in Paris. Gandia began training at the age of 6, when he came with his father to Jiu-Jitsu training. He lost his first fight at the Olympics to Belgian Mathias Kass, the bronze medalist. The team here are good facilities and hope to take him to the Olympic Games in Paris, says Gandia. "I see it as a challenge in my development," he says.


Adrian Gandia, who discovered the judo mat at the age of 6, traveled all the way from the small island in the Caribbean Sea, to joint training with the Israeli team at the Wingate Institute: "I met Oren Smadja during the coronavirus and from here it's all history" • The person leading him to a second consecutive Olympics is the Israeli Liad Echo: "I believe very much in him, that he has a different quality" • Patriotic interview


Over the past year, anyone who came to the judo hall for the Wingate Institute to train Israel's men's team could not have missed: Among the dozens of athletes in blue and white, bearing the words ISR of Israel, is an athlete whose suit does not bear the letters ISR but PUR – meaning Puerto Rico.

For those who wondered what this means, this is Adrian Gandia, who came all the way from the small island in the Caribbean Sea, to joint training with the Israeli team, with the Israeli leading him to a second consecutive Olympics.

Gandia began training at the age of 6, when he came with his father to Jiu-Jitsu training, but the club did not have enough children, so he was transferred to the judo class, when he immediately fell in love and knew that this was what he wanted to do throughout his career.

Adrian Gandia. In love with Israel, photo: Oren Aharoni

When he was 17 years old, he moved to Germany where he trained for 4 years, learning the language, and at the same time improved and managed to reach the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, where he lost his first fight to Belgian Mathias Kass, the bronze medalist.

Those after those games, his coach left, and Gandia looked for how he would continue to train at the highest levels. "I met Oren Smadja during the coronavirus, and when he left, he suggested I come to Israel and he would help me," Gandia told Israel Hayom.

During training, he met Liad Echo, who had been part of the Israeli team for a while, and this combination had already been going on for a year.

"It's very hard to be away from home like that," Gandia says. "I spend a lot of time on the road, but all this to prepare for the Paris Olympics, when we meet in Israel, in training camps and competitions, it helps me feel as much at home as possible."

What did you know about Israel before?

"I didn't know much. I met athletes in all kinds of competitions, but I knew about the country that there were nice people here and that there was hummus. I always get very good treatment, people are open to strangers, invite me to Friday dinners, and I wasn't afraid to come. I recommend people to come visit Israel, there is great food and weather."

Adrian Gandia in action, Eko watching from behind, photo: Oren Aharoni

"I just want to say that I thank the Israel Judo Association for this opportunity to train with the national team, Oren Smadja for their help and Liad for accompanying me."

So now preparing for Paris with Liad, what is the purpose?

"I want to keep moving forward and show my ability on the mat, getting medals and that's why I'll give everything to make it happen."

As mentioned, the person who accompanies him closely is coach Liad Echo, who tells about their acquaintance: "I worked with the national team for two years, there was COVID-19 and I also had a rethink. After a phone call from the national team, I understood that Adrian was looking for a coach, when he contacted me we started working together."

Was the connection fast?

"When I got the phone call I didn't think it would happen so quickly, I started watching his fights on YouTube, and I realized that there was something here that I liked. Adrian didn't break through, even though he was a Pan American champion, but there was something different about judo. He reads the battle moves and sight correctly - the first fight at the Olympics where Adrian surprised Matthias Kass very quickly."

"The team here embraces us. There are good facilities and I hope to take him to the Olympic Games in Paris."

What does it do for you?

"I see it as a challenge in my development as a coach, when I coached for 8 years in the academy and my thinking is always to work at the top of the world. No one has yet trained a foreign athlete here in judo, when it comes to dealing at the highest level."

Liad Eco. There is someone to rely on, Photo: Oren Aharoni

And isn't it a little strange to wear the uniform not in blue and white?

"At first it was strange, just wearing the shirt in different colors and more in red and I still support Maccabi Tel Aviv, but as soon as the Puerto Rico flag is raised, there is also Israeli pride. It shows that there is depth in Israeli sports, when there are also good coaches who can develop and develop in the world."

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Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2023-05-09

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