Now he is a world medallist after delivering a fantastic performance in Baku, on home soil, on day three of this World Championships.
“Yes, I was qualified for Paris, but Hidayat was a real candidate so I thought ‘I still have four years’ and I decided already to focus on the next Olympic cycle, the one we are in now.
To improve since the last cycle, I have been following advice from coaches and experienced judoka. This guidance is working well, so I will keep working that way.” Mammadaliyev is incredibly open to feedback and analysis and is sure that has made a big difference to his ability and his results.
“I have also been comparing situations when I won and those when I lost too, Including things like weight management, to analyse what I needed to change and what would lead me the wrong way. I now have this extra information and experience and it creates better results.”
Those results include a medal at the 2025 European Championships, his first at senior level, and the gold in Budapest just a few weeks ago, his first gold medal on the World Judo Tour. Maintaining that momentum with a worlds just around the corner could not have been easy but Mammadaliyev holds the same line as always, to be open to his peers and coaches. “I have continued to look to the training partners in my judo team, Zelim Tckaev and Zelym Kotsoiev. Their advice in Budapest helped me to win and gave me confidence to continue so I haven’t changed anything since then.”
Now, as a world medallist, with new information and a new level, Rashid Mammadliyev reflects on the importance of this achievement, “Me and my family were dreaming of this since the beginning of my time in this sport. Some time ago it seemed impossible for me. My family came here and supported me throughout the competition which is one of the biggest reasons for this medal. I didn’t want to disappoint them.”
Rashid Mammadaliyev is one of Azerbaijan’s five medallists, so far, at the Baku World Judo Championships, a record-breaking edition for this host nation. Now it is time to rest a little and then get back to work; they are many more steps to take and many more goals to achieve.