City police officer an Olympic hopeful in judo
By Augie FrostStaff Writer
Oklahoma City police Sgt. Brian Picklo is just one step from a dream come true — competing in the next Olympic Games.
"It's the chance of a lifetime,” Picklo said of the 2008 Olympic Judo Trials scheduled June 13-17 in Las Vegas. If he qualifies he will be on his way to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Picklo, 33, spent Friday tossing and grappling his comrades to the mat at the Oklahoma City police and fire training center. He released choke holds only when his sparring partner tapped out.
The gymnasium resounded with each clash of body to mats. One partner, or officer, was traded out for another for the judo champion to pummel to the mat and twist up in pretzel-like holds.
The demonstration lasted only about 20 minutes, but Picklo said he trains four hours a day, six days a week.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's judo twice a day. The rest of his training comprises running and weightlifting, he said.
Unwavering dedicationAll that work means sacrifice — on the job, but mostly with his wife and three children.
"Being able to juggle all of those things, that's the biggest thing and having the support to sometimes be selfish,” he said. "In order to compete at this level you really have to think of yourself sometimes more than others because there's no making up for training, there's no, ‘Ah, I'll run tomorrow.' ”
The gymnasium resounded with each clash of body to mats. One partner, or officer, was traded out for another for the judo champion to pummel to the mat and twist up in pretzel-like holds.
The demonstration lasted only about 20 minutes, but Picklo said he trains four hours a day, six days a week.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's judo twice a day. The rest of his training comprises running and weightlifting, he said.
Unwavering dedicationAll that work means sacrifice — on the job, but mostly with his wife and three children.
"Being able to juggle all of those things, that's the biggest thing and having the support to sometimes be selfish,” he said. "In order to compete at this level you really have to think of yourself sometimes more than others because there's no making up for training, there's no, ‘Ah, I'll run tomorrow.' ”
A graduate of Michigan State University, Picklo came to Oklahoma as a wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma. He was an Olympic hopeful in wrestling until he suffered an injury.
But his dream is alive again in judo.
He won a place in the trials by winning the bronze medal at the U.S. National Championship in March. He also took the gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Quebec in 2005.
The sharpshooter, a member of the police department's tactical team, said he owes a lot of his success to the department for allowing him to juggle his schedule so he can train at the level required.
Picklo said he represents not only the department, but also Oklahoma.
And he expects to be successful.
"I have to know that this is possible, because all the things that I am doing, all the bumps and bruises and the time that I have spent, I have to know that this is going to come true, that this is going to become a reality,” he said.
But his dream is alive again in judo.
He won a place in the trials by winning the bronze medal at the U.S. National Championship in March. He also took the gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Quebec in 2005.
The sharpshooter, a member of the police department's tactical team, said he owes a lot of his success to the department for allowing him to juggle his schedule so he can train at the level required.
Picklo said he represents not only the department, but also Oklahoma.
And he expects to be successful.
"I have to know that this is possible, because all the things that I am doing, all the bumps and bruises and the time that I have spent, I have to know that this is going to come true, that this is going to become a reality,” he said.
FONTE (photo include): NewsOK.com (subscription) - Oklahoma City,OK,USA
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