The wrestling tradition in Azerbaijan, multi-medallist in boxing and Freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines since its independence from Soviet Union, in 1991, started its expansion. Since Beijing 2008, the glow of the new Olympic champion made the population wear kimonos and turn its eyes to Elnur Mammadli’s Judo, who instantly became a star with the achievement.

His gold medal in the 66-73kg category and the bronze medal of Movlud Miraliyev (90-100kg) were Azerbaijan first podiums in the sport. The excellent result has given Mammadli the chance to be his country’s standard bearer in the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

“I was very proud of my medal, and the people from Azerbaijan were very proud of me. I will be the Capitan of our team in the London 2012 Games and carry our standard, which is a great honour for any athlete. My country has won medals before, when we were still Soviet Union, but mine was the first one in Judo after the independence. No doubt, this is an example for younger people, it is an inspiration. You can prove them it is possible”, tells us the judoka, European champion in 2006 and vice-champion in the World Championship held in Rio de Janeiro, in 2007.

In Beijing 2008, Mammadli was not aware of his opponents. Till he gets to the grand finale, there were four combats and four ippon victories: “Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, who was also Azerbaijan Olympic Committee President, has watched all the fights till the end. Before the last one, he came to talk to me, saying I needed to be the number one. And this was how things went.”

The fight for the gold against the South-Korean Wang Ki-Chun lasted 13 seconds exactly. Sceptical about the final blow, Mammadli waved to his compatriots that were celebrating on the bleachers and kissed the Azerbaijan flag sew at his kimono, right in front of his heart.

“I fought against the Korean in a final here in Rio de Janeiro, in the 2007 World Championship, and I had the sensation that the judges were not so fair in their decisions. I had the revenge in the Olympic final and got the gold in a real fast combat! I was glad I was able to achieve this result this way”, he recalls.

One more time in Rio to dispute a leg of the Judo Grand Slam, in Maracanãzinho, and to train with judokas from all over the globe, Mammadli praised the host country of the Rio 2016 Games. Twenty three years old, he wants to continue on top for the next five years.

“Brazilian people love football above all, but they also like fighting combats in general, the Brazilian Judo, Jiu-jitsu and all of martial arts where you can fight against an opponent. We see it very clearly when we are here. Brazil has a strong tradition in Judo, and I hope to give my best in 2016.”

From the 16 Olympic medals in Azerbaijan history, 11 came from Wrestling and Boxing – three from Shooting. In Beijing 2008, two from Judo. Hand-to-hand combat tradition and culture comes from the cradle. Elnur Mammadli, pioneer and celebrity, had the past in his favour. The present is made of gold. The future of victories, for the youth people of his country, will be in their DNAs.