2. On The Threshold

So after all of that went really horribly wrong for me, I ended up moving back home to work my with my dad, who was my- always been kind of my lifelong coach. Kind of start back with, like, basics, kind of get me grounded around how I feel the best. I think God was with me, but I didn't think- I didn't feel that God was with me. You know, I felt like, Why am I going through this? Why did I have to experience this? Why do I have to- I feel like I'm always kind of like the person that comes up short or has this opportunity and not feel success or not feel like what I'm doing has some type of, like, the outcome that I want it to come like? I definitely found myself trying to find, in search for God because, sometimes I think, you know, when you are in need sometimes you do- are searching for more. but I think it's also easy to try to like, find a reason to like, spite God or like people want to give a reason to, like, blame. But I felt a reason of just being thankful to still be okay. Thankful that everything in my everyday life is okay still. Wrestling is something that I chose to do that I still want to do. I still feel like, hey, I've- God's gotten me this close. I've already feel that I'm on the threshold no matter how bad things have gone, and that doesn't define me as a wrestler that I can become and that I will become. Being Serbian, family is very important. Growing up, I saw my grandparents a lot. As I got older, having that relationship with my grandmother, I always kind of was like the favorite grandchild. She always called me her golden boy. After she, she passed away this past August in 2023, I was represented Serbia and wrestled in the World championships in Belgrade, a month later. So, where I ended up winning gold, becoming a world champion, winning my first world title. And so I was able to kind of dedicate that, the gold medal to her. For me, winning means, I would say everything, but I don't think it is. When I, when I go and compete, I'm trying to win and I'm trying to give my best, but, if I don't, I knowing everything is going to be okay afterwards. You know, I know my family loves me. God loves me. I'm in a good place. And I'm always looking forward for the next challenge. Whether that be, to another tournament or a different competition or what's next for me in my next life's chapter. coming from a small town growing into, you know, accomplishing the highest thing you can do in a sport also, giving that, for the Serbian community, for being Serbian and being able to make my people proud that I really want to be able to show them what that means to me, to be Serbian. just all of these other factors show that it's worth it, you know, not just accomplishing that. or what's more, to accomplish, but just all of those things that come along the way.