Majdov’s journey began far from the glamour of world titles. As a teenager, he and his father, who was also his coach, travelled across Europe on a shoestring budget, often sleeping in their car to attend competitions. Watching his parents sacrifice everything instilled a mindset that still drives him today; losing simply was not an option. That mentality has been tested more than most.
During the European Championship final against Luka Maisuradze (GEO), Majdov tore his medial collateral ligament, in golden score. It was his fourth MCL tear, adding to several ACL injuries and knee surgeries. He admits he cried alone in his hotel room after losing a contest he believed he was destined to win but those experiences are exactly why his personal motto has become, "I am broken." For Majdov, this phrase symbolises resilience rather than defeat.
He also revisits the magical run that changed his life in 2017. Weeks before the Budapest World Championships, the young Serbian publicly predicted he would become world champion, even counting down the weeks on social media. When he fulfilled the prophecy, his famous first reaction was simple,
One of the podcast’s most memorable stories captures the unique culture of judo. Moments before facing close friend and double Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri, Bekauri approached him with an unusual request to borrow Majdov’s judogi trousers because his own had ripped. Majdov said yes without hesitation. He compares the moment to “one gladiator asking another to borrow his sword before fighting him,” perfectly illustrating the respect that exists even between the fiercest rivals.
Away from the mat, Majdov is equally passionate about changing judo itself. He believes the sport deserves greater visibility, greater promotion and stronger athlete branding. Among his ideas are prime-time finals, major fight-night style events and encouraging judoka to build their own personal brands in the same way combat sport stars have transformed other disciplines. He is already putting those beliefs into practice through the Majdov Academy, bringing world champions to train young athletes across the Balkans. For Majdov, elite athletes should be treated like heroes, not because of social media followers, but because of what they have achieved.
Now a father of two, he admits his greatest concern is not his own future but whether his children will develop the same hunger that drove him from sleeping in cars to standing on top of the world. This is more than the story of a world champion, it is the story of an athlete who believes greatness is forged through sacrifice, setbacks and an unwavering refusal to quit.
Watch the full interview as the latest episode of JudoPod hears Nemanja Majdov discuss injuries, mental toughness, his unforgettable 2017 world title, and why he believes judo deserves a much bigger stage.