At A Glance
- Ramirez, invincible as she is with multiple continental jiu-jitsu titles under her belt with the recent one just last May in Amman, Jordan, could feel some nerves upon entering the giant billeting facility that is a one-hour drive from the city center.
CHENGDU, China — No amount of pressure could discourage Annie Ramirez from bringing pride for the country she has served for countless years.
But stepping inside the massive Athletes' Village gave her jitters on Thursday, Aug. 7. She, after all, is just human.
Ramirez, invincible as she is with multiple continental jiu-jitsu titles under her belt with the recent one just last May in Amman, Jordan, could feel some nerves upon entering the giant billeting facility that is a one-hour drive from the city center.
"I was having goosebumps," she admitted while looking at her teammate Kaila Napolis. "I told Kaila I'm palpitating."
The feeling was understandable. The World Games is like the World Championships of 34 non-Olympic sports.
The rivals you beat in tournaments could be the same hungry opponents eager to demolish you when the matches fire off on Aug. 11 in the futuristic-looking arena named the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium.
"I have faced almost all of them," said Ramirez, referring to the five other competitors in the women's 57kg event. "I know their strengths and weaknesses, but when the games begin it's all equal."
"It will all boil down to the proper mentality," added the Hangzhou Asian Games champion, who is being coached by judo legend John Baylon.
Ramirez, being one of the veterans in the 47-strong delegation, could win it all on Monday next week. The preliminaries up to the medal round all take one grueling day of non-stop grappling.
"I will do my best. I came here prepared," she assured.