A Tough Day on the Platform, A hard Lesson — And a Stronger Comeback!

Competition is not the goal – It was meant to be a proof

For me, competition is a way to showcase the results of the hard work, energy, and time invested in training. It is a testament to effort and highlights what I considered important at that moment. Even though my coach reminds me that competition results are not the focus. The real goal is maximum improvement in technique and performance — improvement for the sake of performance itself.

Still, when competition day came, I wanted to put up a good result. Not for validation or comparison, but because I felt ready for it.

But competing isn’t always about perfect lifts or big PRs. Sometimes, the hardest—and most important—lessons happen on the days when things don’t go as planned. My recent performance at the Belgium National Weightlifting Championship was one of those days.

I learned - The hard way.

Training leading up to the competition was exceptional. With programming and coaching from Anton Pliesnoi, I was climbing with numbers confidently in every possible lift variation. From big PRs in power's and pauses to PRs in classic lifts. My numbers were raising, technique improved, but what I loved the most, was growth in my understanding of the Olympic Lifts from a very personal and professional perspective. Thanks to Anton and his effort to explain the positions and proper muscle involvement, but also thanks to my constant curiosity. Physically, I was well prepared, outside of a small flu and relatively overtrained quads. I felt ready. But competition is not just about the physical preparedness.

The D-Day

I started my warm-up slowly, getting my stretching and barbell warm-up done took longer than expected. With a slightly rushed call on platform - my opener, a conservative 98 kg was a successful lift. It felt a bit heavier than expected, considering I wanted to open at 103 that day, but I managed — solid start and with smile on my face walked off the platform.

All happy with my successful opener, I walked all the way back to my warm-up platform, getting ready for another attempt – Quick chat about the attempt with my girlfriend and back to my head – reflect on the opener and focus on the next one.

Then my second attempt (103 kg) was called… but I never heard it.
The announcer spoke in French, and neither I nor my girlfriend understood it. We simply missed the call. When I realized I had skipped the attempt, it hit me hard. My focus dropped, and I felt frustrated. I went to call for a weight increase by the table, but they rejected it. It was too late. For 2 minutes no one showed on the platform, but no one bothered to ask for me. This moment didn’t add up on my mood, but I decided to gather up the strength and call for 105 in the last attempt.

The last snatch attempt at 105 kg reflected that. I stepped on the platform mentally unsettled — too much frustration, too much anger, not enough focus. I felt like ‘’the plan’’ has already failed, and I couldn’t cope with it the correct way. The snatch itself did not feel heavy, but when you can’t focus and miss an important cue, in a sport like weightlifting – you pay the ultimate price. And it doubled up, when the pain in my knee reoccurred.

After the snatch portion, it was time for the clean and jerks. My priority was simple: open with a solid, controlled lift. I chose a lighter opener once again — enough to feel the barbell on the platform, protect my knee, and secure a total to make sure I was in the competition.

I opened with 118 kg, made it, with good reserve for a second attempt, so I decided to do one last lift of the day and jumped to 127 kg. I cleaned it well, but the dip with that weight felt painful and the jerk slipped forward. At that moment, the smartest choice was to withdraw from the final attempt to avoid injury and try to get back to training as soon as possible.

I finished 7th overall with total of 216kg, far from what I know I’m capable of, and far from what was our plan.

Reflection and Moving Forward

Looking back, this competition wasn’t about what went wrong — it was about what it revealed.

In the moment, I was tested in ways that had little to do with strength or technique. I was tested on awareness and my ability to stay mentally anchored when things didn’t unfold as expected. The biggest lesson wasn’t physical. It was mental. I learned how quickly focus can drift, how easily frustration can appear, and how important it is to regain control and continue performing.

Athletes often talk about building physical strength, but the strongest quality you can develop is mental resilience. This competition reinforced that truth. Not as a setback, but as feedback — clear, honest feedback.

What I take from this experience is clarity and big lesson for the future. Competition demands more than preparation in the gym. It demands structure, presence, and calm decision-making under pressure. Strength and technique matter, but so does awareness. So does composure. These are skills that must be trained just like any lift.

I’m genuinely grateful that this lesson came early in my journey. It gives me time — time to refine my understanding, to sharpen my performance, and to build better habits from the ground up. These experiences don’t just shape me as an athlete; they make me a better coach and make me understand how crucial is to have a experienced, wise and compose person in your corner when situation like this happens.

Moving forward, my focus is simple: Keep training, getting better and get through as many lessons as possible. Not just for myself, but so I can share that knowledge with the athletes I work with and contribute as positively as possible to the training environment I’m part of. Every lesson I learn on the platform carries over into how I coach, communicate, and support others. If I let down myself, I can’t be there for others, and that matters to me as much as winning.

Bad days don’t define you. What defines you is how you respond to them.

This competition reminded me why I love this sport. You’re never done learning. Every experience offers something to take forward, something to get better in — and this time, I took exactly what I needed.

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who watched the livestream and to everyone who was there with me on the day, doing their best to support and lift me up. I know I’m not always easy to approach when frustration shows on my face, but please know that I notice the effort, and I truly appreciate it. I’ll carry that support with me — and I’ll do my best to keep learning, improving, and showing up better each time.

Miro