Promoting young talent in Lower Austria, sport: Judo project “Stunning with Michi”

The “Stunning with Michi” project is starting a new round: Under the leadership of Michaela Polleres, two-time Olympic medal winner, Sportland Niederösterreich is promoting young children’s enthusiasm for the sport of judo in collaboration with the Austrian Judo Association and the Lower Austria Judo State Association.

Nope. Since last year, judo units have been held at elementary schools in Lower Austria under the patronage of Michaela Polleres. “I am pleased that there is this cooperation project to jointly promote the sport of judo in Lower Austria and that I, as an active athlete, can make a contribution to it,” said Polleres. Professional structures are extremely important for the development of young athletes. “I hope “My Olympic medal is an additional inspiration and motivation for young talent.”

Last school year, the project reached 53 schools in Lower Austria, including locations in Krems, Amstetten and Guntramsdorf, and enabled over 3,000 children to take their first steps in judo. Judoka Michaela Polleres and numerous Lower Austrian judo trainers taught the fall school and other elements of the sport in a playful way.

Sustainable promotion of young talent

State Sports Councilor Udo Landbauer emphasizes the importance of the initiative for the sport of judo: “I am convinced that with the ‘Stunning with Michi’ project we have successfully established another cornerstone in the spirit of our sports strategy and that we children have a lot of fun and variety with the help of our local role models “We want to create lasting enthusiasm for judo and get people involved in the sport.” Landbauer emphasizes that through projects like this, Lower Austria wants to ensure that it continues to write outstanding judo success stories in the future.

Focus on conveying values

Thomas Stückler, President of the Judo State Association and Technical Director of the Austrian Judo Association, underlines the importance of judo beyond sport: “The sport of judo embodies values ​​such as respect, discipline, appreciation, courage, friendship and helpfulness. In addition to the unique character development, judo particularly trains… Motor skills and mobility.” The aim of the project is to convey these values ​​to children in a playful way and to make children aware of sport as early as possible.