2023 co-World Champion David Losonczi (87 kg, HUN) naturally carried high expectations on his shoulders entering the Paris Olympics in August. In addition to his World title, Losonczi (who turned 24 just last month) already claims a long list of impressive credentials including a Senior bronze (’22), U23 silver (’21), and numerous other placings from top international tournaments.
Losonczi won his first two matches in Paris, and against stellar opposition. In the round-of-16, he defeated World champ/’20 Olympic bronze Rafiq Huseynov (AZE); in the quarterfinal, he got past former European Championships gold Alexander Komarov (SRB). But in the semifinal, Losonczi fell to eventual bracket winner Semen Novikov (BUL) and was edged by ’22 World silver Turpal Bisultanov (DEN) for bronze following a passivity/par terre chance for the latter with a minute remaining in the second period.
Losonczi finished 5th in his first Olympic Games appearance. Missing out on a medal initially did not sit well with the Hungarian and in the time since he has done his fair share of reflecting.
“I can’t be happy about fifth place because that wasn’t the goal,” said Losonczi. “I was only a hair away from success in both the semifinals and in the bronze medal match. After the loss in the semifinal, I fell into such a deep mental hole that I couldn’t climb out of the next day, which is why I didn’t get the podium in the end, either.
“Everyone thought that if I were to lose, it would only happen in the quarterfinals against Komarov. When I defeated him, I felt a little relief. I didn’t shout anything, but I calmed down. All the steam disappeared. It didn’t take much, maybe five percent, but that was exactly what I needed to get to the finals.”
Looking back on Paris, Losonczi can see where he might have hit a snag. It wasn’t on the mat, or not in totality. Part of it had to do with his view of the competition itself and the aforementioned expectations that he shouldered heading into the tournament.
“This was my first Olympics, I had to experience it,” explained Losonczi. “Not to mention that I went out with a lot of pressure, some of which I put on myself. I expected, and others expected, that I would return home with a gold medal. I think it was a mistake. I should have just gone out there on my own and it will be what it will be. I think all of these combined caused the fact that there was not the same ‘flow’ as in the World Championships.”
With the event now in the rearview mirror, Losonczi is firmly placing his focus on the future. He recently underwent a minor knee procedure for an injury that had occurred prior to the Olympics. More importantly, he has dusted himself off, put things into proper perspective, and his drive to compete has fully returned.
“At first, I didn’t have much motivation. But as the days went by, I wanted to train more and more. This is my life. I like to wrestle. The motivation came back by itself.
“I always say: the most important thing is to never give up. Hard work and struggle will always pay off, and sooner or later we will reach our dream. I believe in this, I encourage everyone to do so.”
Busy Schedule
The breadth of activity for Greco-Roman wrestling will soon increase rather significantly over the course of the next four weeks. Later this month both the U23 and Senior Non-Olympic Weight World Championships will get underway in Tirana, Albania. A week after the Senior Worlds, the Bill Farrell Memorial will be held (Friday, November 8) at the New York Athletic Club, which will provide to the US program their second tournament of the season with the World Trials having been orchestrated in September.
The very next day after the Bill Farrell Memorial, a contingent of United States age-group athletes will be competing at the VVV Cup in Vaasa, Finland. The American roster will be comprised of wrestlers from Lucas Steldt’s Combat WC (WI) and Westley Bockert’s Interior Grappling Academy (AK). The full list of US entries, as well as their tournament and training schedule, will be made available coming up soon.
U23 World Championships — Tirana, ALB
October 21-23
Non-Olympic Weight World Championships — Tirana, ALB
October 28-29
Bill Farrell Memorial — NYC
November 8
VVV Cup — Vaasa, FIN
November 9
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