Five-time world champion, France’s Alexandra Recchia is the second episode of our “my best fight” series. Present on the international circuit for more than 10 years, she chose to tell us about her final of the World Championships in Bercy (Paris) in 2012 in front of 15,000 spectators. She won 8-1 against China’s Hong Li, this fight is part of history, of her story and remains a motor for her career.

By Florian Fournier / Photo : Kphotos

Sunday November 25, 2012. Alexandra Recchia is going to play the final of the -50kg World championships at home, in front of 15,000 people. She is under pressure. The day did not start in the best way. The rest of it, everyone knows it. The top of the World was waiting for her.

“Emotionally, it's a very strong moment. In the morning, I woke up under stress, When I came to see Yann Baillon (her coach at that time, today director of the French national Team), I was crying. I remember asking him to help me. He was not used to this kind of situation. But, as the final was at 2 PM., we had time to manage this delicate moment so that I could arrive calmly on the tatami.

Once in Bercy, everything was different. I found myself. As soon as I warmed up, the machine was on its way. The stress gone, serious things have started. Hearing my name chanted by the public helped me a lot. It’s something, 15,000 spectators chanting your name !

When the referee says Hajime, the first thing I tell myself is "have fun". Tactics is not really my strong point. On this fight, I had no game plan. When I'm too tactical, I am tricked. My only plan was to set up my Karate, to take the center and to catch all the opportunities, in reaction as in attack.

The fight starts badly. She scores first. It doesn't bother me that much. Then, I score 8 points in a row. One, two, then a sweep, which gives me confidence. I say to myself : "it's for me, I'm going to do it".

The key point of this fight is when I score my first point. I lightly touch her on the face and Chinese don’t like contact. There, I feel that I am taking the upper hand over her. I still have this action in mind. I hook her leg before going gyaku zuki in her face. I see her head wobble slightly. Then I didn't let her breathe. It's a fight where I had little waste.

The Yame released all my emotions. During the whole competition, I was like a robot who walked straight towards its goal without worrying about anything. My broken wrist in the first round, the blows of my opponents… Nothing prevented me from winning this title. And when I released my emotions, it was a mix of several feelings that made me cry for almost two hours.

If I had to change one thing in this fight, it would be the point conceded to my opponent. To win 8-0 in a World championships final, who doesn’t dream of that ? But this win fully satisfies me. To want more would be almost pretentious. My 8-1 win is magnificent and I keep it as it is.

I use this fight in my visualization to be the best I can be. It allows me to remember positive and strong emotions that help me tackle new deadlines. I feel completely able of remaking this fight, and even a better one. I’m training hard for other fights like this. I know it will come”.