The Brazilian Erika Miranda is certainly known to many as a successful athlete. Now she is a federal coach in Munich and was already successful as a coach in the European Tour last week.
It was not her debut in Europe, as she already coached some of the German women in Sarajevo at the European Open last month.
At the age of twelve, Erika Miranda began judo in her hometown of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Her mother wanted her to play sports like her brothers. Judo was the only available sport in the sports club. “I found judo very manly,” she says, looking back with a smile on her face. “But I fell in love with judo in one training session, made friends and never missed a class.”
She had a lot of strength, determination and was always very disciplined. When she finished her first competition with a bronze medal after three months, she was motivated to achieve even more. At the age of 17 she joined the national team and became very successful. Silver medallist at the 2013 world championships, four bronze medals at world championships and two Olympic participations in 2012 and 2016 with a 5th place in Rio de Janeiro and countless medals on the IJF tour are successes in her vita.
After ending her competitive athletic career with bronze at the 2018 World Championships, she took a two-year sabbatical and moved to Canada to study. “I have always been faithful to judo and thought about how I could contribute to the development of the sport.” The opportunity arose to become a coach in Munich. “It was the ideal moment to challenge myself,” she says determinedly, wanting to take the girls to the top of judo.
“I feel the same motivation as I did when I was an athlete. It’s an incredible feeling that brings back great memories.”
She wants to work hard with the young women with discipline, commitment and resilience so that they can achieve everything in life.
The fact that all the effort is worth it in the end and that the athletes are successful is what motivates them the most.
“The training is definitely the hardest part of the process. Athletes must develop the physical, mental and emotional unity that is fundamental to achieving these goals.”
In Bavaria Miranda works together with Spanish coach Javier Madera.