Jovan Iliev The Reigning National Champion In Men’s Wrestling for Macedonia

By: Luna Gjorgieva, Elena Kostova, Milana Pantova, Sara Lazarova, and Andrej Stojanov

This photo shows Jovan winning his wrestling championship!

Introduction:

Jovan Iliev is a second-year student at the Ljupcho Santov high school. Jovan is the reigning national champion in men’s wrestling for North Macedonia. Jovan began his wrestling journey five years ago when he met his now trainer, Zoran Srebrenov, in a local clothing store in Kochani. While shopping in the clothing store, Zoran approached Jovan about becoming a wrestler. Although hesitant, Jovan agreed to attend a training session to learn about wrestling. Jovan left the training session still unsure if wrestling was for him. Soon after, Zoran contacted Jovan and convinced him to join the Macedonian men's wrestling team. 

For Jovan, wrestling is a lifestyle. The sport encourages him to live a healthy lifestyle, surrounded by dedicated and inspiring teammates who share his passion for wrestling. Through wrestling, Jovan has learned the true meaning of dedication, commitment, and determination, allowing him to persevere through challenges in and out of the training facility. 

Details on wrestling: 

When Jovan is not studying at Ljupcho Santov High School, he is training in a local wrestling facility. During the wrestling off-season, Jovan trains for wrestling between four and five days per week. During the wrestling season, Jovan trains for wrestling every day, oftentimes twice per day. 

Jovan’s dedication and daily habits have helped him achieve national champion status. Year-round, Jovan focuses on living a healthy lifestyle. Jovan is always focused on eating a healthy diet to maintain high energy levels and endurance for his athletics. His diet is packed with protein, vegetables, fruit, and healthy carbohydrates. Jovan also spends significant time in local gyms to exercise and train beyond his wrestling training sessions. 

Achievements: 

In 2024, Jovan's dedication and talent were recognized by the Macedonian Ministry of Sports. He was awarded a scholarship from an agency within the Ministry of Sport to support his commitment to excellence in the sport of wrestling. Jovan is currently ranked number one nationally in the 55 kg men’s wrestling division in Macedonia. Jovan credits much of his success to his wrestling trainer, Zoran. Jovan has faced many challenges throughout his wrestling career. He explained that Zoran’s mentorship and support empowered him to push through hardships and build unwavering determination, perseverance, and dedication toward achieving his wrestling goals.

Goals for the future:

Now, Jovan has his sights on becoming the 2026 Balkan national champion for Men’s wrestling this fall. Jovan is focused on strengthening his routines by training with Zoran, twice per day and eating a healthy and balanced diet. When Jovan is not studying or training, he prioritizes relaxation by getting eight hours of sleep per night, drinking lots of water, and spending quality time with friends and family. 

In the future, Jovan dreams of becoming a professional wrestler and later a wrestling coach for the Macedonian National Men’s wrestling team. 

Advice

We concluded our interview by asking Jovan what advice he would offer to those who dream of pursuing a career in wrestling. Jovan emphasized the importance of training, and staying consistent in the gym. He also advised athletes to avoid solely focusing on willing. Jovan believes that athletes should prioritize learning and that each failure is an opportunity for growth. Jovan stressed that wrestling is not easy but very much worth the journey.