Iva Bogdanovska, 18, wins Balkan senior gold and says her Olympic dream is a medal

At just 18 years old, Iva Bogdanovska is already emerging as one of North Macedonia's rising judo talents, combining a long medal record with recent senior-level success.

Bogdanovska has collected more than 60 medals across domestic and international events and was named best cadet by the Judo Federation, while also receiving recognition as the most successful young athlete from the Union of Sports of the City of Skopje.

Gold in Tirana and a clear ambition

The most notable recent achievement is her gold medal at the Balkan Senior Championship in Tirana, where she beat an opponent eight years her senior to take first place. The result underlined her readiness to compete against older, more experienced rivals.

Talking about her start in the sport, Bogdanovska says she began combat sports at the age of six and moved into judo just before turning seven. "I started with combat sports at six, and before I turned seven I started judo and immediately liked it. Over time I realised that this is the sport where I truly belong. It is next level," she says.

She describes the demands of judo and the sacrifices required for a professional career: "Judo requires a lot of discipline, training and sacrifices. The most important thing is to be persistent and not give up when hard times come. My biggest challenge is to stay motivated and mentally strong." Bogdanovska adds that every defeat is a lesson: "I try to learn something from every loss. I look where I made mistakes, I work on that and I come back even more motivated."

Looking ahead, Bogdanovska is focused on steady progress: she wants to continue winning medals and to represent North Macedonia at the biggest events. "My biggest dream is to one day compete at the Olympic Games and win a medal," she says.

Photo: Arhiva Iva Bogatinovska