Roper: The Olympic Games 'broaden your horizons'

DW: You are one of 450 German athletes who are taking part in the summer Olympics. What does this mean to you?

Miryam Roper: It's crazy. You have to understand that you are usually alone with your sport and your small circle. Then all of a sudden you have an entire team with you. You get to meet incredibly nice people, interesting characters, and you broaden your horizons. That's what's so great, also in the Olympic Village. That not only all the sports from one nation are together, which is great in and of itself, but the entire world. You can meet the most diverse people.

Thousands of athletes live in the Olympic Village. Does this give rise to an Olympic team spirit or is each athlete too focused on their own competition?

This Olympic spirit is there, definitely. Of course, everyone is focused on their competition, you shouldn't kid yourself. This is the highest level of competition in the world of sport. That's the most important thing. But this gathering, the togetherness, the world coming together in one place - especially in the Olympic Village, plays a major role. In the venues it is different, but you spend a lot of time in the Village. You eat breakfast and you sleep there, so it is very special.

What goals have you set yourself for Rio?

I always want to win my competition. I would be happy to win a medal, no matter which color. But goal is of course to win.

Who are your main competitors?

Among them is certainly Karoi Mazimoto of Japan and Rafaela Silva of Brazil - who will have the home fans behind her. Others include Automne Pavia of France, and then there is the Mongolian Sumiya Dorjsuren. We have a fairly broad field, especially in my weight class of up to 57 kilograms. This is a typical woman's weight, so there are quite a few of us.

You are known for your aggressive style of fighting. But is that the way to win a medal? Do you adopt a different tactic at a tournament like this?

I believe that I have shown in recent years that I can also approach fights from a tactical point of view, not going for a quick win. When the opportunity comes I am ready but I can also approach a fight tactically. This is something that I have learned to do in recent years.

It is said that you were once 300 grams (10.5 ounces) too heavy before a competition and then cut your hair. Is this true?

The story is not quite true. I just had to lose a bit more weight, which I have always done. But I often change my hairstyle so sometimes there is additional weight here. But it's more likely for me to be forced to miss a meal.

How have you found the team spirit to be in the German Olympic camp? Will athletes attend your fights, for example?

For sure. Of course this depends on how much time you have apart from to training, preparation and the competition, but (in 2012) I attended a number of events. I cheered on the beach volleyball team in the finals, as well as the field hockey team. At the Olympics in London we had all lived in the same block of flats with common areas, which was very nice. You meet and cheer for each other - that's great.

In Brazil, a lot of people have been talking about the risk of infection with the Zika virus. Does it concern you?

I am not afraid of this. I know that the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) is working with the doctors to keep the risks to a minimum. It is also the winter, when mosquitoes are less active. Mosquitoes exist in any tropical country. Of course it is something with which we must be aware of. But it is not something that worries me a lot. We are aware of the situation and know very well what we're dealing with.

Miryam Roper, 34, is to compete in the weight category to 57 kilograms in Rio. She finished second at the 2014 European championship and third at the 2013 Worlds. During that year, Roper also became the first ever German to reach number one in the women's world judo rankings.

The interview was conducted by Joscha Weber.