All in Attitude!
Stanka Zlateva: The coach is like a parent, but to many children!
If there is a sports personality in Bulgarian sports that we instantly associate with the expression "man's girl", then it must be the symbol of women's wrestling, Stanka Zlateva. The tornado from the Sliven village of Krushare was pounding 140-kilogram men in the country, but more importantly, because of her talent, hard work and big heart, she was able to reverse the prejudices that women have no place on the wrestling mat. She became a pioneer and a symbol of women's wrestling.
Character, purpose, perseverance - these are the components that Zlateva points out to make a great champion, she recommends to young athletes in Episode 5 of NSC Olympus educational studio "We will meet at the top".
The club's coaching tandem Emil Milkov & Nikolai Mollov traveled to Sliven, where they asked the questions in the wrestling hall to a winner of two Olympic silver medals, a five-time world and six-time European champion.
And more - Stanka is the first Bulgarian to participate in the Olympic Games in women's wrestling (2004), and the first Bulgarian world champion in wrestling (2006). she is the winner of VIP Brother 2013. Three times "Bulgaria's No: 1 Athlete".
And a curious moment from her confession in front of the "We'll meet at the top" studio - the first sport that the champion started practicing systematically was the modern pentathlon. Her personal trainer Demir Demirev convinces her and directs her to women's wrestling. And she doesn't even know women’s wrestling even exist.
"There is no way an athlete can become great for a day. She has been gaining experience, and working on her psyche for years. She must learn that she must believe in herself. That it is possible," says Zlateva.
"It's the motivation that when you're at the top, you get a reward. I come from a village, from a poor family and this sport helped me arrange my life. Now living differently, the Sport has given me everything."
Zlateva can speak on this topic from the position of a successful athlete, but also as a coach.
"The difference is in the character. Anyone can be good - in the wrestling room, on the field. However, character is important. To resist the stress, the tension, the competition, explains Zlateva. - There are people who stand out from others. Everyone is training. Others have given the same effort, but this character, which brought them to the fore when it was necessary, did not work for them.
We must abstract ourselves from who thinks whatever. There are envious people. That's how it is in life. However, when the athlete has a given goal, he must abstract and continue, looking at his pot and his way."
Stanka Zlateva has been a coach for 3 years now. She has produced champions. And she has produced also Balkan champions. But according to her, they still can't believe it. They cannot realize it.
"It's hard for them to believe in themselves. I have called a psychologist for my groups (in different age groups) to work with them. They are small, it will take time for them to develop belief."
"Since we are in the pandemic, except in the club, my players have no clash. To see what level are they at, to fight with others. Before that, there were no people's wrestling where they called me and we didn't go. On the field or on the mat - there is always a collision there.
At the moment, the children are in a state of lethargy. They stand not knowing whether to move forward. It's different at competitions, the motivation is different."
Every great athlete prepares and knows his great goal. At competitions, I did not communicate with the other competitors. I avoided them. Then regardless of whether I was winning or losing, we would talk. I am friends with my opponents off the mat.
But when you're on the mat, it's a war. I learned it from my coach Simeon Shterev. The one who is more motivated, regardless of the opponent's attacks, will win.”
"The coach must be able to motivate the little athlete, but not pressure him at all costs. There is no unrewarded labor. "
"I have always said that the most hardworking children are those from the villages. They lead a different way of life. They are calmer. It's different in the city - new clothes, phones, player work.
"And the children from the villages travel every day on cold buses. They work from a young age, they have other habits. The more you push them, the more they will hold. I am happy for parents who make their children work, teach them to be responsible towards animals."
"It shows in the parents. They try for the children to have anything. If you don't get a nice phone, and jeans people will make fun of the kids. The world is material and demanding. In spite of everything and their possibilities, people work hard, and try not to be deprived of anything. But they do not realize that they themselves are not trying. This complacency of children that they know they have leads to them not fighting for anything.
My generation and the older one were different. We fought for 20 cents to buy ice cream. Now the parents may not have, but they are obliged to provide for the child. And it should not be given to them ready-made. The big ones don't need that either. They have to struggle to appreciate it.”
"The lessons are to have a goal and to be hardworking. There are many talented athletes, but lazy talents cannot rather succeed."
“When I started coaching, I thought it would be cool, it will be fun. And actually you have so many responsibilities; you have to work with different characters.
You are like a parent, but not to one child, but as much as to your whole group. Such people need a pension earlier because they are used up. They work hard and take responsibility.
When you finish training, people are looking for you on the phone. The teaching profession is also very hard. Back then the teacher would eventually beat you up. Then your father will spank you. Now the child will complain to his father, and you can't do anything.''
"The coach is like a parent. He should have five ideas ahead of what his athlete will train. He should know when to push him, and when to ease you up. What will he eat? I have competitors of five different age groups - some are working with barbells, others are cutting weight… It's not like the gym teacher – to just throw a single ball.
Coaches are being harmed in the sense of pay. The coach is an educator, a specialist. He should be compensated so, that he is not ashamed about the possibility to wear torn clothes. His authority suffers. If the coach arrives to the gym with a lada and torn sneakers, while your competitor's father has a Mercedes, the coach can say not that many things to the competitor.
A coach must have self-confidence, and to be able to lead.
Sports teachers receive higher salaries than coaches in individual sports. Teachers work until 5 o'clock, give it easier with the ball. Coaches are available Saturday, Sunday, evening. They don't get paid.
I have been given something and I must give it back – to give knowledge to the children. I'm having fun."
"It's easier to be an athlete, to think only of yourself. The coach is not only involved in the training, he has to think about everything else.''
The educational show "We'll meet at the top" is being broadcasted twice a month (one week apart) on Wednesday evening at 20:00, live on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
All shows in the series ‘We will meet at the top’ (see here)
