Andre Gomes in action. Photo: Personal Archive
André Gomes confirmed the good phase in competitive Jiu-Jitsu when he won the gold medal at the 2022 IBJJF Pan-American Games, in Florida, a few weeks ago. The Gracie Barra black belt shone in the master 1 heavyweight category and, on top of that, got the bronze medal in the absolute.
The Gracie Barra athlete took the title by beating Joaquin Torres (Fight Sports) in the final category, by 6-2. André tells us that persistence was the key factor to beat Torres in the dispute for gold. Currently, the champion is sixth in the black belt world ranking.
“I was very clear-minded, I was calm and conscious about how to turn the game around. I started behind by two points but was able to turn around with a sweep and a back grab at the end of the fight. It was my day, no discussion! Persistence is the key, you can bet on that. It’s the law of sowing! You reap what you sow. All you have to do is believe and keep on searching”, details André, who won bronze and silver medals in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
André points out the Master Worlds as the season’s biggest goal and the desire to conquer the Fight to Win belt, a superfight tournament in the United States. On top of all that, he highlights his professionalism with diet and training to reach high performance.
“The focus is the Worlds and the Fight to Win belt, but I should fight some opens as well. In this preparation, I did everything right in the diet and physical preparation with Raphael Benassi. The camp I did was really good, there were a lot of tough guys in training. So that gives you good confidence”, reveals the champion.
Before closing, André talks about the importance of having a strong mind to keep your head straight during Jiu-Jitsu competitions.
“The struggle is internal! Sometimes, between one fight and another, you’ll feel doubt and anxiety, and if you don’t control it, it finishes you up right then and there. Thank God I have a good mind. I’ve been taking care of this part for a long time,” says André.
