Almost ready
November 22 2001

My last diary entry was in June when I was getting ready for the German Grand Prix in Leipzig, Germany. It turned out that I had to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury I had sustained earlier. I have not written since then as there was really nothing to write about. I have been tested physically, mentally and recently, emotionally. Everything seems to be in disarray?until now. There have been some family tragedies. I have suffered some personal injuries that have kept me from competing all Summer and my life outside of wrestling and family has also been unheralded, again? until now.

As the wrestling world now knows New York City which was suppose to host the World Championships from the 26th-29th of September, 2001. But due to the terrorists attacks, and other considerations, the World Championships has been moved to Sofia, Bulgaria for the 22nd-25th of November, 2001. While I would have loved the chance to compete in New York because of the exposure that Wrestling as a sport would have garnered in North America, I also understand the choice for Bulgaria and applaud the decision. I have trained and competed in Bulgaria a number of times; it is familiar territory. The hope is that in precisely a month from now, the Canadian flag will be hoisted, somewhere, a familiar anthem will be sung, that is all by the grace of God. Barring any unforseen circumstances, I will be competing in Sofia, in the 69-Kilogram division (Freestyle). The intention is to go to Sophia for a fair share of the pie.

I have often been asked what my world title defense would be like: Is there any pressure from expectations people have of me? Do I feel like I have to perform well in order to justify my world championship and Olympic gold medal status? Would it have been easier if I was going into the world championships as a virtual unknown? Am I scared? Can I stand up to the weight of expectations? First off, I do not feel that I am going to Sofia to defend a title, I feel that I am going there, like the other competitors in my weight class to take a shot at the top spot on the podium. I feel that this is a totally different year and a different tournament. When I won in Ankara, Turkey, in 1999, it was quite a different feeling; it was one of doubt. I never expected to go to the world championship, let alone win it all. This year, I will be going in as a seasoned professional; it will be in semi-familiar surroundings and I will have my teammates and coaches there as well. It should be a fun tournament. The weight of expectations will have very little to do with the overall outcome.

The truth still remains that the expectations I have of myself far outweigh the expectations other people have of me. Anytime I go to any tournament, I expect to do well, to wrestle to the best of my ability. While I am aware that every one of the competitors registered so far in my weight class are in Sofia to win, I wish and pray, like all others, that I do well too. The summer of 2001 has been the most difficult one for me on a personal level, I had planned to have about five tournaments before the world championships, but it was not to be. For a few months, my training was very limited. Just two months ago I was unsure of my status for the world championships. But those doubts have abated and I am fully on board.

In terms of fitness, I am at a very satisfactory comfort level. I still have a month before the world championships to level the playing field. I will be going to the Sunkist International Tournament in Phoenix from the 27th - 28th of November to get in a few matches before the world championships. The plan is to get some of the rustiness out and get back into a competing frame of mind before the whistle blows in Sofia. My mat awareness and firepower is more than satisfactory. I am running, lifting, swimming, rowing and best of all, I am getting into good spirits. I am feeling good and I will feel better before the World Championships. I am watching videotapes, meditating, having my quiet times and sleeping well. In a nutshell, I am saying that in a month, I might just be ready to explode in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Keep sweating... Daniel (Dynamite) Igali