Olympic gold, double senior world medallist, European champion, 12-time grand slam medallist; these are just some of Andreja Leski’s results. It is a career to be proud of, and she is, but these results do not provide a comprehensive illustration of Leski’s career, approach, learning or character.
At the Ljubljana European Open in February, Leski took the plunge, announcing her retirement in public and on home soil. What she received in that moment was a tear-inducing 12 minute standing ovation, a warmth of applause rarely seen in any sporting context. She admits she may have cried a little.
“I achieved everything and knew I had giant potential.” Every athlete knows though, that potential and reality don’t always align. “In 2021 it was the hardest, when I couldn’t go to the Olympic Games.” Compatriot Tina Trstenjak was just a place or two above her in the Olympic ranking, both in the world top 5. “I was so good and yet totally overlooked. But through these things maybe you learn to value yourself instead of focusing on how others perceive you.”
This was made even more complicated for Leski as the third in an illustrious line of Olympic champions from her country, all women and all -63 kg. “Sometimes it’s hard even for me to find my real value, through comparison with those who came before, but my story is mine, it’s different.
I feel like I really enjoyed every second of my career and did it all without losing myself. I didn’t live only for judo, I maintained who I am throughout. I dedicated my life to it but it still wasn’t always everything, somehow. All parts of my life have stayed connected and it’s been a privilege to enjoy what I’m doing for my work (judo). I stayed close to my passion. I did it all for me! You have to be present and happy with all your choices when this career is over.” And Leski knew that, of course, one day it would be over.
Why has retirement come now, exactly? “This is a hard question! I felt like I was following a track, like a train, and all was prescribed for me. I put all other things aside for this, friends and family. Their lives centred around me and I wanted to take more control. It had become a love-hate relationship with judo. When I put my judogi on I feel like it’s a superhero costume but there were still moments that made me hate it, particularly before this last Games. I always chose judo and I believed in that wholly but slowly it changed and some of the things I wasn’t choosing became more valuable to me.
I continued because I felt, I knew, I had the ability and it could end somehow with this fairytale. I had the chance and used it fully!”
Now, with such a big change to her schedule, there is a whole world of new things to enjoy, “Actually, this period has brought more obligations and or challenges and opportunities. Mostly I have more choice, in every way. I’m in more control of what I do and I am really enjoying that.
In this new period I have already started testing the waters. I am staying in contact with judo, doing seminars, and I am also back at school working on a Masters degree in sports management. I also work as an IT professional. All of this is a lot and so I am learning to prioritise better, to find the right direction for me. My passion remains firmly with the sharing of my knowledge and technical judo work on the mat. I am enjoying that part of my life a lot.”
Looking back on the formative years, through the first moments of ignition on the world stage and on to the Olympic gold, there have to have been some key people who supported and guided Andreja. This is the case for all elite athletes. Even in an individual sport, there is always a group of key people whose commitment or genius or love opened the doors at the right time for the next essential moment to take shape. There is no now without a then!
“Each coach brought something or maybe I took from each of them. Mitja Železnikar was the one who sort of scouted me and brought me to Bezigrad in Ljubljana. He’s always stayed connected. I feel he is still somewhat responsible for this career of mine. He has always been a mentor, offering important advice, even when he hasn’t been my primary coach on the mat. It’s important to have someone showing you direction and believing in me as much as I did.”
In her club, Bezigrad, there was then Luka Kuralt. He stayed with Andreja throughout her elite career, was with her at the Olympic Games and always offered stability in the often rocky world of sport.
“Friendship-wise, relationship-wise, it became clear to me that even in my personal life I had a clear and peaceful mind ahead of Paris. The people around me all understood and gave me the space I needed. I had to put my guilt aside. No result is guaranteed but no-one added to the pressure that I put on myself. We need to be pushed and supported and we need positivity and I had all of that. My friends were close but never intruded. Luka was always exactly where I needed him to be too.
Of course my family has been so supportive but it never became too much. They didn’t ever intrude at training or try to interfere with coaching. They came to the right competitions and listened to my complaints and things I wanted to share. It was really just right.”
Undoubtedly, all the support and encouragement Andreja Leski received was just right! Happy with her career, it is time to move on, but what an incredible career it has been. The world of judo is richer for Andreja’s presence and now, as she inspires the next judoka who are jumping on the track, she continues to enjoy judo, stays true to herself and is thoroughly ready for the exciting years that are to come.
