Layia WEST: "Right now, my whole life is dedicated to SAMBO"

New Zealand athlete Layia West won a gold medal at the Asia and Oceania Cadet, Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships, which took place this April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She was unmatched in the Junior Women's Combat SAMBO category up to 59 kg. After the final whistle, Layia spoke to the FIAS website about her emotions following the victory, SAMBO’s role in her life, and the pride she feels for her country.

Layia, what's the secret to your success?

– Honestly, I don’t even know. I just trained hard and believed in the win.

Did you prepare specifically for your opponent in the final?

– To be honest, no. I hadn’t seen her fights and didn’t really know what to expect. When I stepped on the mat, I just reacted to the situation.

So what made the difference: technique, mindset, tactics – or something else?

– I’d say it was my dad’s unshakable belief in me. I think his confidence in my victory and his support gave me the edge in this fight.

What does this victory mean to you? How special is it?

– It means everything to me. Right now, my whole life is dedicated to SAMBO. I’ve studied every rule and requirement inside and out. For the past three years, I’ve been working tirelessly toward this goal. Today, SAMBO is my life.

What was your first sport?

– I started out with jiu-jitsu, but then SAMBO came to New Zealand and completely swept me off my feet.

So you've definitely chosen SAMBO?

– I love SAMBO so much – it’s the best sport out there!

I know you also work as a referee at competitions. Has that helped you on the mat? Did it give you any extra insights or a new perspective during fights?

– It helped 100%. Knowing the rules for scoring points inside and out played a huge role in how I understood the match, what to focus on during the fight, and what tactics to use.

Right now you’re involved in SAMBO as an athlete, referee, and coach. Are you ever afraid that SAMBO will completely take over your life?

– I’m absolutely convinced that SAMBO is the best sport in the world. And I don’t need to wait for it to take over my life – it already has (laughs). And I’m not afraid of that at all – in fact, I’m aiming for it!

During the medal ceremony in Tashkent, the New Zealand anthem played. What did that moment mean to you?

– Oh my God, it was truly incredible. Honestly, I was a little worried – like, do the organizers even have an up-to-date version of our anthem? When I stepped onto the podium, I was nervous for a second that I might have to sing it myself if there was no music (laughs). It was a moment I’ll never forget, and now I’m just overflowing with pride.