Vladimir Gladkikh: "The coach said: Get ready, we are leaving for the World Championship tomorrow"

The World Sambo Championship ended in Serbia. Vladimir Gladkikh represented Sverdlovsk region in the weight category up to 57kg. Russian sambo has its own eligibility criteria: the winner of the Russian Championship goes to the World Championship and the silver medalist to the European Championship.

Vladimir Gladkikh has lost to an athlete from Moscow, Sayan Khertek, in the final of the national tournament four years in a row. However, prior to this year’ World Championship, Khertek tested positive for coronavirus and could not go to Serbia. Therefore, Gladkikh went to his World Championship debut. And he won on first try!

In his interview for Oblastnaya Gazeta, the Sverdlovsk sambist told what he felt after his victory, how difficult it was to fight without coaching hints, about agitation and very dogged bouts in the semifinal and final.

Vladimir, when did you find out you were going to the World Championship?

I mean, you were preparing for the European Championship that should have been held in Russia... In October, we got news that the European Championship would not be held. “To be honest, I was very disappointed. I wanted to compete here in Ekaterinburg where I could really feel the support in the stands. By and large, my mind was already on a new competition season. I was preparing hard for the Spring Russian Championship. We were summoned for training camp of our national team. It included those who had to compete in the World Championship, and us, the runners-up, who were supposed to train and cover bases. In the training camp, our coach came up to me and said that I would probably have to go to Serbia. As a result, on November 2, he told me: Get ready, we are leaving for the World Championship tomorrow".

It was your first World Championship. Did you feel more nervous than usual?

“Yes, I did, probably because of the fact I had not been preparing for the World Championship, I had not been mentally ready for that. I was too late to find out that I would have to compete at the World Championship. My first bout was against a Spaniard athlete. I knew their level of sambo was not the same as ours, so I had to win. Indeed, I was very nervous. Luckily, I managed to win, and what’s more, ahead of time. It got a little better, and I heaved a sigh of relief”.

The second bout also ended ahead of time, in just 20 seconds. Did you expect that the fight could end so quickly at the World Championship?

“After the bout with the Spaniard athlete, I was all caught up in the tournament. I tuned up for every single fight because I realized that there had been no weak opponents at the World Championship. From the very beginning of the fight, I acted on the offensive and, true to form, wrestled an opponent to the mat and performed a painful hold.

The semifinal against a Belarusian athlete turned out to be tough. During the first minutes, you acted on the offensive, won a point, but at the end of the fight, you seemed to have little energy left. Was the bout in fact so physically challenging?

“It was not the first time I fought against Vladislav Burd, we know each other well. Two years ago, I won 2-1 and this time 2-0. And yet, the fight turned out to be extremely tough, but I knew I had no margin for error as the World Championship finals were at stake. Fortunately, I managed to hold the lead”.

By the way, Valery Glebovich Stennikov (head coach of the Sverdlovsk region team) did not join you. Did you deeply miss his hints during the bouts?

“We found out too late that I would go to Serbia. Of course, he could arrive, but they probably would not let him in without accreditation. He could obviously watch the tournament at home. Besides, the situation with coronavirus is difficult all over the world now. He needed to take care of himself. He articulated a pre-competition talk before I left. I certainly missed his hints during the bouts, especially in the finals. I would probably have performed better if he were here”.

The final appeared to be really tough...

“It was a fight against an experienced athlete from Tajikistan, a world champion among juniors and youth, and a silver medalist of the World Cup. Therefore, the bout appeared to be dogged and exhausting. Nevertheless, I managed to withstand and win, with a small margin though.

How did you feel? When the referee raised your hand, you seemed to move no muscle. It was only later in the arms of the coach that you finally smiled.

“I was just completely tired out. And, to be honest, I have not realized yet I am finally a World Champion! Perhaps I will realize it later, when I am already home”.

How did you celebrate your victory and your birthday, if it is not a secret? (Editor's Note: Vladimir turned 28 on November 8)

“Honestly, there was no chance to celebrate. We lived in a hotel and felt shut off from the world. We left the hotel and got on the bus that took us right to the sports hall, which was kept closed to all non-participants. Well, then we went back after the competitions. Therefore, I will celebrate with my family when I get home.