To make an athlete name pronunciation guide, put your preferred written name beside a short recording of yourself saying it. Add a simple pronunciation note if useful, test it with someone unfamiliar with your name and include the reference with your media information. Give a host something they can check before introducing you.
For grapplers competing internationally, the same name may be read by an announcer, a podcast host and a sponsor's video editor. Preparing a small reference lets you explain your preference once and share it when needed. You do not need to change your name or invent an easier nickname to make this work.
Separate spelling from pronunciation
Start with the name you want used in public introductions. Preserve the spelling, spacing and accents you use professionally. Put any preferred short form on a separate line and explain when you use it. A pronunciation aid should not replace the written name in a caption or graphic.
This is an established kind of media resource: SailGP's media hub publishes athlete names alongside written pronunciation guides. That example comes from sailing; it is not a grappling requirement. Our recommendation is to make a compact version that fits your own media kit.
If your competition registration uses a different form from your public name, mention the distinction to the event contact. Ask how they need the information supplied rather than assuming a media note changes an official entry.
Record the name in your own voice
Use a quiet space and make a short audio clip. Say your full name naturally, repeat it a little more slowly and finish with the version you prefer in an introduction. Keep the recording focused on the name so the listener does not have to search through a biography.
Listen back before sharing. Check that the beginning is not cut off and that the final syllable is clear. Background music is unnecessary for a reference recording. Name the file so its purpose is obvious, such as your public name followed by “pronunciation”.
If you also provide a written aid, divide the name into sounds and mark the stressed part consistently. Treat that spelling as an approximation for the intended reader. An English-speaking host and a Dutch-speaking host may read the same sound cue differently, so label any language-specific note instead of presenting it as universal.
Make a reference card a host can use
Keep these fields together in your media information:
- Public name: the exact spelling to use on screen or in print.
- Spoken reference: a clearly labelled link to your recording.
- Reading aid: an optional short pronunciation note, with its intended language.
- Preferred introduction: full name or the short form you actually use.
Ask someone who has not heard the recording to read your note aloud. Then play the clip and check whether the note helped or confused them. Revise it with that reader in mind; the goal is a usable prompt, not a perfect phonetic transcription.
Place the card near your athlete biography. Test the audio link as a recipient and check that it opens without an unexpected access request. If the organiser uses a form or another submission method, follow that process.
Share it before the introduction
When an interview or appearance is confirmed, include one short line: “For the introduction, here is how I pronounce my name: [recording]. The spelling for captions is [public name].” This is an original template; fill it with your own information.
During a soundcheck, offer to say the name once. If a host gets it wrong, a calm correction gives them a chance to use your preference next time. Avoid making the correction harder to find than the original reference.
Check written captions separately. Accurate pronunciation does not confirm accurate spelling. Add that check to your interview preparation and keep one current reference rather than sending different versions to each person.
Our take: make the small details easy to get right
- Write the public name. Separate the exact spelling from any reading aid.
- Record a clear reference. Say it naturally and slowly, then listen back.
- Test the handoff. Ask an unfamiliar reader to try the note and open the link.
- Share before going live. Send the reference with your introduction and check captions separately.