It was his first appearance in the Judo Austria shirt. Miguel Ogando Lopes will succeed Robert Krawczyk (POL) as ÖJV national coach from January 1st. The 37-year-old Portuguese recently worked for the German Judo Federation for more than seven years, including as a federal base trainer in Hanover. In the Judo Austria interview, Miguel talks about his coaching experiences in Germany and his expectations for the new role as ÖJV national coach.
How do you experience your first appearance for Judo-Austria, even if your employment contract doesn’t start until January 2025?
Miguel Ogando Lopes: “The setting here is impressive. I already know many faces from the international stage, and I’m getting to know some of them now. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be moving to Linz in January and my family will be joining me four weeks later (wife Hannah, an American judoka, daughter Zoe, 4).”
What was the deciding factor for the ÖJV?
Ogando Lopes: “It wasn’t a difficult decision. Becoming a national coach is the next step in your career. So far I have only followed the World Championships and the Olympic Games as an onlooker. I brought one German athlete to the Olympics for Tokyo and Paris. There they were then coached by the DJB national coaches. In Austria I have the chance for the first time to work permanently with the national team and also coach at major events. I’m really looking forward to that.”
Have you had time to discuss your coaching role in detail with head coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch?
Ogando Lopes: “Yes, we spoke on the phone several times and had time for a longer exchange today. Yvonne has already achieved an incredible amount with Austria since taking office in 2021. Of course that didn’t go unnoticed by me. As I said, I’m really looking forward to working with her and I’m sure I can still learn a lot. At the same time, I am also convinced that I can contribute my know-how to the ÖJV.”
