Madeléne Rubinstein (26) had to thank herself tonight, just a week before the final takes place.
– It feels absolutely fantastic and I am very happy with my efforts. The three guys in the semifinals, I treat myself to the final place. It has just been fun, she says when See and Hear meets her during filming.
When asked how it feels to break out so close to the big final, she makes no secret of the fact that it is naturally a bit awkward.
– Right there and then was a bit bitter and I think that is normal, but I am so happy with my own efforts and it has been just great. You would have liked to have had that final place, but that was not the case.
She describes the participation as absolutely fantastic, and takes with her the people she has met further.
– Everything has been a dream, and I am so grateful that I have been able to participate, she points out.
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Got the dream shattered
The 26-year-old also makes no secret of the fact that she has enjoyed recognizing her competitive instinct. Her judo career came to an abrupt end when the 2020 Olympics were postponed.
– The goal has always been the 2020 Olympics, but when it was postponed I had to go through an operation that made me miss the qualification. It made it impossible for me to reach the Olympic dream. It was very bitter and of course very sad, she explains when she made the hard decision to give up.
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– I needed a couple of days for myself when I made that decision. You have worked for a goal all your life, and then suddenly the dream breaks out. But I’m so glad I took the education next door and can go straight into work. It has been good to get my mind on something else, but it was hard, she continues.
The injury she had to undergo surgery for was a so-called SLAP lesion, and two almost completely torn muscles in the shoulder.
– I landed on it, and felt that it was not completely inside. But you do not want it to be something serious. I continued to train hard and pushed it, but then you realize that it is not good.
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Injured under «The Masters»
Today, however, the shoulder is completely well again, but Rubinstein can reveal another injury from the time during the “Master of the Masters”.
Prior to the participation, she had in fact suffered wear and tear on the meniscus – which later fell under the “Master of the Masters”. She has undergone surgery for this injury after participating.
– I’m still struggling with it. Right now there have been a lot of complications, she says, and adds:
– I am not back in training and it has taken a very long time. I hope it will be good soon.
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After her career, and TV recording, she is back at work in a maritime engineering company.
– It is a very varied everyday life, and I enjoy myself. It was a very natural transition to everyday life and “ordinary everyday life”, she continues.