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Michelle Nicolini On The Worlds: “If You Have That Favorite Status, Then You Better Train Harder, Because The Entire Category Is Coming After You.”

Photo: Kinya Hashimoto

Photo: Kinya Hashimoto

Michelle Nicolini is already prepared for the Worlds. The championship, which will be held between May 29 and June 2 in California, United States, brings together the best athletes in the world. 

“The preparation for the Worlds was very good, we were training at a very strong pace in Brazil, I came to the U.S. in the Checkmat camp, where Leozinho is Vieira is leading and every day that the D Day approaches, I feel better,” she said in an interview with tatame (In Portuguese).

Always among the favorites to win this year, Nicolini will fight in middle heavy. For the athlete of Checkmat, it is important to be confident in her game:

“I went up to the middle heavyweight division and I think that, with so many world champions, there is no more favoritism. If you have that favorite status, then you should train the same way, or even more, because when you win one year, the entire category is coming after you (laughs). Everybody wants to beat the champion and that nothing hinders their goal. That is why you should always be confident, impose your rhythm from the start and focus only on becoming the champion. ”

As for the Pan American, the Worlds will have drug testing for athletes. Asked about this, Nicolini approved the initiative for the growth of Jiu-Jitsu.

“The doping testing is necessary to professionalize the sport. Everyone knew that they would have the dope testing in the Pan and I think that nobody would dare participate if they had been using something…I was not surprised with the results. I hope we can really rely on this test. ”

The first semester of the tournament season is intence, with athletes being forced to choose championships to prevent wear and injuries. For Michelle, every fighter needs to review his calendar and in her case, postponing a little vacation.

“In the Jiu-Jitsu season, it’s a rush in the first six months. Some would dance with the rhythm of the music, but as I say, we need a training timetable. The pace is accelerating. I took the gold at Pan this year and last year. It’s hard, but sometimes you have to choose. And this year I will still fight Metamoris, the weekend following the World. My holidays will be a little later this year, but certainly it will be worth it. “