He hadn’t fought as an individual since 2022, as a team since 2024. He wanted to have one last fun. At 37 years old, the Ukrainian Stanislav Horuna put a final end to his career with a win in the Salzburg Series A (October 2-4). Good luck, champion !
Texte : Ludovic Mauchien / Photo : WKF
We hadn’t seen him fight since the World Team Cup in Pamplona at the end of 2024. We missed it. He missed it too. So much so that he put the gloves back on at the beginning of July for a final lap.
It was at the A series in Salzburg, where he won his first international medal as a senior in 2011. It was in bronze. This year, it was a golden one because Mister Stanislav Horuna left the stage by the front door, signing a final win.
It could not be otherwise for this huge champion who only had the misfortune to fall into the same category as Rafael Aghayev and Luigi Busa to gild his already well filled records.
Bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games (2021) and at the Worlds (2014), winner of the World Games (2017), the European Games (2019), and the European Championships in -75 kg (2021) and team (2023), Stan Horuna has 24 podiums in Karate 1, including 9 wins, and 5 European medals in all.
An extraordinary list of achievements, but above all a style. Shimmering, stunning, and fighting. At 37 years old, Stan Horuna is bowing out. He gives us his last interview as a champion.
Why did you decide to fight in Salzburg ?
I always had the feeling that there was something not completed. I stopped competing but I didn’t feel like I quit. Something felt undone. And, on the other hand, I just got bored a little bit. I wanted to feel the emotion from fighting, the drive, the adrenaline again.
I was doing seminars all over the world, and I worked with different guys, and every time I went to a game, it was driving me, so I felt and I thought : “why not trying one more time? If it’s not now then when ? Each year, it is getting harder and harder to move, to do some trainings and some physical activities (laughs).
This time, for sure, that’s the last one ?
Yeah, I made a decision. I gave my word, I left my gloves down the podium. I am responsible for what I say and what I do. Now, it’s done, in a beautiful way, now I don’t have the feeling that something is undone, not finished or not completed.
What was the most difficult during the preparation ?
It was just physical, believe me ! In the two months before the competition, I did so much ! What I did was probably a year dose of what I did during the Olympic cycle…
How did you feel in Salzburg ? Like you were 20 years old ?
(Laugh) Well, definitely not like I was 20 years old, but I felt really good, because I had very professional preparation this time. It was a specific preparation. It was some good recovery procedures. Physically, I was feeling super good. The only thing I was wondering about was that I was lacking fighting experience.
Before the first fight, I didn’t have that much confidence. Of course I had sparings back in the dojo, but it’s different. Then, I did react in time, I did make the right decisions.
Did you know the guys you fought in Salzburg ?
I discovered them. These are all new guys. I’ve never met them before. So, for me, it was a surprise, I guess for them too (laugh). But you need to adapt to everything new.
And now, what’s up ?
I will keep doing what I do : seminars and on-line classes (1). I have my own online team in Haruba so I will keep coaching them. For now, two of them are competing in the youth World championship next week in Poland, as athletes from Venezuela.
