Judo coach slaps Olympic athlete in bizarre pre-fight ritual

Viewers were left in shock when this German athlete was shaken and slapped in the face by her coach before an Olympic event.

The shocking moment Germany's Martyna Trajdos was slapped on live TV.

Judo fans were left in shock when German athlete Martyna Trajdos was shaken and slapped in the face by her coach before an Olympic bout in Tokyo.

Cameras caught the bizarre moment ahead of Trajdos’ elimination round of 32 fight with Hungary’s Szofi Ozbas on Tuesday afternoon.

A determined Trajdos walked towards the mat alongside coach Claudiu Pusa, who abruptly grabbed the collar of her outfit and started shaking her back and forth.

Pusa then slapped the German judoka twice in the face before she nodded and walked onto the mat.

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The shocking moment Germany's Martyna Trajdos was slapped on live TV.

Trajdos ultimately lost the fight, with Ozbas emerging triumphant by Waza-Ari.

However, the footage of Trajdos and her coach inevitably caught the attention of viewers, with many voicing their concern for her wellbeing.

But Trajdos defended the pre-fight ritual on Instagram, explaining it was simply a motivational tactic to help her “be awake” for the contest.

“Don’t worry guys! That’s the ritual which I chose before fights. My coach is just doing what I want him to do to fire me up!” she posted on Tuesday.

“This is what I asked my coach to do so please don‘t blame him. I need this before my fights to be awake.

“Looks like this was not hard enough.

“I wish I could have made a different headline today.

“As I already said that’s the ritual which I chose pre competition! My coach is just doing what I want him to do to fire me up!”

Dutch television host Dennis van der Geest commented: “Who cares what people think. We are doing a combat sport and if this helps you.”

Trajdos was born in Poland but currently lives in Cologne. The 32-year-old was the European Games champion in 2015 and a world bronze medallist in 2019.

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Germany's Martyna Trajdos at the Tokyo Games.