Telma Alexandra Pinto Monteiro is a female Portuguese judoka who has won multiple medals in international competitions, such as the European and World Championships. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she won her first-ever Olympic medal after taking the bronze in the women’s –57 kg event.
Lets read through Telma Monteiro’s spectacular journey in her exclusive interview with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have won multiple medals in international competitions and reached the pinnacle of success by winning your first-ever Olympic medal in the women’s –57 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Walk us through this spectacular journey and tell us how it all began?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
I started Judo when I was 14, which is not normal in this sport. And I was encouraged by my sister to start. I wanted to travel around the world and be close to my sister and friends, who at the time also practiced judo. But I’ve always been very competitive, so since I started and fell in love with this sport, I decided that I wanted to be really strong. I did not plan how strong, but I knew I wanted to do something special. The Olympics Games of Rio de Janeiro were incredible because it really showed me that it will always be worth it, all the work.
Full Interview on Next Page!
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All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life, preparing for the World Championships.
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
I train twice a day, so normally I do 10 trainings in a week. In the morning I do gym, some days lifting weights and other days cardio and after physiotherapy to prevent some injuries.
And in the afternoon I do Judo around two hours, training technique, tactic and I also fight.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
My routine depends on the moment of the season that we are. I can share with you one of the routines I´ve being doing twice a week since I returned from holidays.
- Supine 40 kg 15 reps + Lat machine 50 kg 15 reps + Abs 20 reps – 4 times with no rest between exercises;
- Incline Supine 30 kg 15 reps + paddle 50 kg 15 reps + lumbar 20 reps – 4 times with no rest between exercises;
- Push – ups 15 reps + Elevation dorsal decubitus 15 reps (you can use TRX for this exercise) + Abs 20 reps – 4 times with no rest between exercises;
- Funds 15 reps + Elevations 10 reps + lumbar 20 reps – 4 times with no rest between exercises;
- Power clean 30 kg + shoulder press 10 kg halter 15 reps + Abs 20 reps – 4 times with no rest between exercises;
All with no rest between exercise or series.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
I never followed a specific rigid diet. I like to eat well, I eat, meat, rice, pasta, fruit, and drink a lot of water, always keep a good hydration. I avoid fried food, but I eat a little bit of everything. The thing that I care most is don´t skip meals so I can have energy for training and then to recovery.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Share with us your haircare and skincare routine?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
About my hair, I have to wash almost every day, which is not so good, but I sweat a lot, so there is no other chance. I do mask once a week and sometimes after washing and drying I use a product to for the tips, so to help keep it brighter.
On my skin, I wash every day before going to bed with soap and I use cream, I do this before bed and in the morning when I wake up. Besides, there is nothing special.
Video
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NXvo4dHnEnI
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding judo players who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
First off all, set a goal, you must know where you are going so you can set a plan. That’s what you’ll have in your mind in hard moments. Remember that you have to do your best every single train, and even this way, be ready that sometimes you will not be enough to be successful. Don´t be afraid to fail and to think big, just make sure you’re doing everything you can to reach what you want. And don´t give up, it will be worth it!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How was your experience when you won your first-ever Olympic medal after taking the bronze in the women’s –57 kg event?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
For me, it was really special, because I went to the Olympic Games for the first time at the age of 18, in Athens 2004, throughout my career, I dreamed and I believed in this moment. I was a favorite in Beijing 2008 and finished in 9th, I was a favorite in London and lost again, I knew I was going to Rio at the age of 30 and trying to reach the podium would be a great challenge, and above all I had surgery on my left knee only 6 months before the Olympics, rip my inner side ligament. I was struggling against time in my recovery, and against the statistics, I felt most people did not believe I could do this. But that did not scare me, or knock me over. I knew I could do this, and I turned every minute of preparation into gold.
It was wonderful, after 12 years, and in this condition win for the first time, my Olympic medal. I could never imagine something so special.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
During my career, my sister was my biggest influence because she was very strong when I started practicing judo and she always supported me. But in general, my judo friends have helped a lot of training, and all the athletes I’ve been seeing fighting over the years and people I’ve trained with. I am a very observant person, so I´m inspired by simple things.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your preparations for the future Games and Championships.
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
This will be my last Olympic cycle. So I’m focused on achieving some goals like being world champion and qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, strong enough to feel that I can fight for another medal. So for this, I will concentrate on competing in the major events, and keep my training at a high level, not just physically, but also technically. I continue to do some international training camps to maintain the high level of training partners and try to understand what I should improve.
Video
https://youtube.com/watch?v=K8ILqkGQxL8
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
While playing professional sports, athletes often face injuries and other difficulties, would you like to tell the audience about how to cope up and make a comeback after an injury?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
Well, first when you get hurt, you must accept that your main goal is to recover 100%, so you need to focus on the treatment exactly the way you do to train. It does not matter to think about the time you are missing out for training and competitions. Being mentally ready for treatment and time off from training and competition, this helps to focus on healing. Once you can start training, it is important to have a general preparation so that your body is strong again for high level training. At this point, you can set goals on the competition, but never forget that you are restarting, so it is good to give the body a real stimulation, but also keep expectations not so high. The first motivations should be trust in relation to your body.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With a massive following who look upto you and follow you, how does it feel that you are able to influence and inspire the healthy lifestyle of so many individuals?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
It’s a responsibility but also a pleasure, because I really believe in the power of sports to change lives. Practicing sports is not only a way to have the “perfect body” but mainly to create a healthy life routine and to become more confident and ready for the challenge of our daily life. When you step out of your comfort zone and you are able to challenge yourself, you begin to become more confident and you will take this into your daily life.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our visitors on our 18th Anniversary?
Ms. Telma Monteiro:
It is a really interesting site about sport and fitness that gives some really useful information that you can easily apply in your day.
The hardest part of doing sports is to simply start, once you start and get some routine, you will not want to stop. So take the first step!
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Video
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness