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"People think that it is easy because I score an ippon, because I have managed to last for
a few years, to be No. 1 in the world. But it's not a simple as it seems. There are a
lot of hours of training, there is a lot of work behind this, there is a lot of self-questioning.
I don't go onto the mat telling myself the fight is won. Nothing is guaranteed in advance.
The day it is guaranteed, I'll be even more relaxed than I am now."
"A lot of people say that. But if I one day stopped training as I do, gave up my advantage,
my intelligence in a fight and stopped asking questions of myself, my opponents would devour
me. And thankfully I have this intelligence and these people around me that keep me moving
ahead instead of resting on my laurels."
"I'm not tired of it. I still have desire. I want to finish on a high note, with a competition
where I would score only beautiful ippons. When I am invincible, I will stop. I don't
feel invincible yet. I don't feel that I can stop. No. I have to continue. I have to make
a mark on the history of my sport. I have to set myself bigger challenges."