SPORTS
Bajema gets better with age
Judo champion earns national gold
JOE SUNNENTHE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Bajema gets better with age
Judo champion earns national gold
JOE SUNNENTHE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Ralph Bajema will be celebrating his 70th birthday next month with another gold medal around his neck.
Bajema took first place at the USA Judo Senior and Master's Judo Championships in Houston on April 22, winning gold in the 73-kilogram (161-pound) weight class of the master's division of the 65-69 age group.
It's the second national title for Bajema and seventh medal overall during his career. He also won silver in the same age group in the open weight division last week.
"I've been doing this for 50 years," Bajema said. "I'm going to compete as long as I can, hopefully until I'm at least 80."
Bajema won each of his five matches with throws, beating Glenn Shifflet from Wisconsin in the championship fight. The Birch Bay resident has also won three bronze medals at the world level.
Next year he'll be moving into the 70-75 age category.
"I'm not looking forward to moving up," Bajema said. "But I should have an advantage being at the younger end. I will have competition though. There are some good people at that level."
Bajema is a member of the Western Washington University Judo Club. He's skipping the world championships in France this year, but plans to compete in the event in Brazil in 2007, he said.
"That one I'm looking forward to," he said.
Reach Joe Sunnen at 756-2862 or by e-mail at joe.sunnen@bellinghamherald.com.
Bajema took first place at the USA Judo Senior and Master's Judo Championships in Houston on April 22, winning gold in the 73-kilogram (161-pound) weight class of the master's division of the 65-69 age group.
It's the second national title for Bajema and seventh medal overall during his career. He also won silver in the same age group in the open weight division last week.
"I've been doing this for 50 years," Bajema said. "I'm going to compete as long as I can, hopefully until I'm at least 80."
Bajema won each of his five matches with throws, beating Glenn Shifflet from Wisconsin in the championship fight. The Birch Bay resident has also won three bronze medals at the world level.
Next year he'll be moving into the 70-75 age category.
"I'm not looking forward to moving up," Bajema said. "But I should have an advantage being at the younger end. I will have competition though. There are some good people at that level."
Bajema is a member of the Western Washington University Judo Club. He's skipping the world championships in France this year, but plans to compete in the event in Brazil in 2007, he said.
"That one I'm looking forward to," he said.
Reach Joe Sunnen at 756-2862 or by e-mail at joe.sunnen@bellinghamherald.com.
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