Nearly 14 years later, Martin Borisov, the bronze medalist of the World Cup in Poland in 2009, was appreciated and commemorated with a star on the Alley of Sports Fame in Novi Iskar. She shone on May 15 in the Currillo Park Space alongside four other prominent area athletes who conquered world tops in their sports.
Before he was awarded the gold medal in Lausanne, Martin didn’t even suspect he would be a sumo competitor. His father took him as a younger one to the Levski wrestling training hall, where his parent also got into scrimmages.
“That’s how I started training in the 93 kg category in classical wrestling. I had a lot of success at state and city championships with a lot of first place. My Levski team have awarded me multiple times, said Borissov”.
Meanwhile, the severe injury provoked Martin to transfer to another sport. Sum appears similar to the struggle with its specifications. His choice is assisted by former President of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation Peter Stoyanov, who pays for Martin’s surgery and recovery and special knee pads and accessories for his future career in Japanese sports.
Even before lying on the operating table, Martin participated in a sumo city championship and came first. Shortly after, again with torn ligaments and meniscus, Borisov responds to the European Championship competition in Geneva. This is only three months after he began training in sumo.
On the way to gold, Martin first overcame the Ukrainian Andriy Mosevich and the Russian Karen Karatyan and, in the final, beat the much heavier Hungarian Danie Milivoyevich. A week after returning to Bulgaria, Martin underwent surgery. And at the sixth month, he is ready for new fights after complete rehabilitation.
Borisov added a bronze medal from the World Cup in Poland in 2009. and two more European titles – in Hungary two years later (up to 21 years in the 115 kg category. and up to 18 years over 100 kg. )
Today Martin is 30 years old, and more than half of his life is spent in the gyms at home and abroad. He has stopped his active career and does not compete but maintains his shape and tone.
His view is mainly focused on children and their future. “Let them do sports; Sports can prevent alcohol, drugs and other serious vices. Putting their phones down, not standing still too long, and moving more,” says Martin, who is ready to teach kids and promote sumo in the future.