PHOTO: Zubcic: I Am Obviously Down With Losing

It is obvious I am down with losing and having to surpass my opponents. It must be in my Croatian blood, Martina Zubcic told Javno.

Martina Zubcic won the bronze medal in Taekwondo in Beijing and will go down in history as the second Croatian woman athlete who won a medal at the summer Olympic games. The 19-year-old thus gave Croatia another reason to celebrate.

During the handing out of the medals Martina literally glowed.

- All the years, all the training sessions, everything went through my mind. I wanted my family, my coach and my friends to be with me at that moment, but this is good also – Martina told Javno.

She won the bronze medal after winning in the fourth round, with the first three rounds ending up a tie.

- I did not think about the pressure or about how this round is for a medal. I focused on what the team’s coach, Hong Seung Ki told me. We agreed that I try the neryo blow, which I managed to do and won – she said.

In the first two fights of the tournament Martina won by surpassing the advantage of her opponents. We wanted to know what happened in the semi-finals when she failed to go through with the advantage she had.

- It is obvious that I am down with losing and when I have to surpass my opponents. It must be in the Croatian blood – Zubcic said laughing.

- I was not unwary in the semi-finals, I had a draw several seconds before the end. The Turkish girl made a lucky strike and she won. She is a very good fighter and in the end deserved her silver medal – Martina said.

Martina Zubcic Wins Taekwondo Bronze For Croatia