Bullying, Injury, Prejudice A Fighter‘s Story in a Man’s World
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THE ŽENY
I do see the situation changing, though.
Today, there are many women who have
the courage to enter these fields — and they
do it brilliantly. That, in my view, is a huge
inspiration — not only for young girls,
but also for men who see that the ability
to lead, decide and represent has no gender.
I believe feminine energy brings something
that used to be missing in both sport
and diplomacy — empathy, intuition,
the ability to seek balance rather than
conflict. And that’s where I see the future:
in men and women being able to collaborate,
not compete.
How did you handle the pressure
and expectations around you when you
chose to go against the current?
I won’t lie — it wasn’t easy. When you go
against the current, you’re often on your
own. People tell you that what you’re
doing makes no sense, that you should
take the safer route. And the pressure —
whether from others or from yourself —
can be immense.
But I learned to see it as part of the
journey. If it were easy, everyone would
do it. Every big dream contains moments
of doubt and uncertainty — and it’s
precisely in those moments that you see
how much you truly want it.
What helped was focusing on why
I started. Whenever I felt like giving up,
I reminded myself of the feeling I have
when I’m in the ring, when I push past
my limits, when I achieve something
against all odds.
I also realised that pressure doesn’t have
to be the enemy. If you learn to accept
it, it can make you stronger. Today, I see
it as an engine — as proof that I’m doing
something that matters.
What was the hardest part of your path
to success – physically or mentally?
Mentally, without a doubt. Physical pain
passes with time — injuries heal, fatigue
fades — but what happens in your head
is far more demanding. Every athlete knows
the body can handle more than we think,
but the mind can break you if you don’t have
it under control.
Mental resilience isn’t built overnight. It’s
about every fall and every comeback.
About the ability to get up even when you
have no strength.
Physically, of course, it wasn’t easy either —
hard training, injuries, diets… but you can
handle that if your head is strong. That’s
why I say the most important muscle to train
is the one in your head.
Thank you for the interview.
Marna is a world champion in combat sports
and a security analyst collaborang with NATO.
Despite experiencing severe bullying and a serious
injury, she got back on her feet and built a successful
career. She works in security diplomacy, leads training
for the armed forces, and is also an author. Her story
shows that determinaon and perseverance can turn
obstacles into strength.