Olympic Countdown: GB Judo team
Eurosport - Thu, 24 Apr 10:23:00 2008
There was a tangible confidence and sense of optimism when the British judo team for the Beijing Olympics was announced in south-west London earlier this week.
Eurosport - Thu, 24 Apr 10:23:00 2008
There was a tangible confidence and sense of optimism when the British judo team for the Beijing Olympics was announced in south-west London earlier this week.
"I think this is the strongest judo team we have ever sent to a Games," said Team GB Chef de Mission Simon Clegg when announcing the seven names at the famous Budokwai venue near Chelsea.
That is quite a statement, given the country's prolific record in judo at the Olympics.
It took Britain eight years to win their first medal after the sport was introduced to the Games in Tokyo back in 1964, but since then the various teams have brought home an impressive total of 16.
Despite that Team GB are looking to get out of a bit of rut in Beijing, having won just one medal since the Barcelona Games 16 years ago.
What is more, a Briton has never won a gold medal - seven silvers and nine bronzes make up the haul.
However, Euan Burton, who will compete in the -81kg weight category, believes that the Brits have what it takes to shine in China.
"All seven players selected have won medals at the World or European Championships in the past," he told Eurosport. "It is a really strong team, and I think everyone is capable of winning a medal.
"I don't think you go to the Olympic Games to finish 15th. You go to try and become an Olympic champion and I think I'm definitely capable of winning a medal, as are the rest of the team."
One competitor who is certainly desperate to get on to an Olympic podium is Karina Bryant (pictured right), who will be making her third appearance at the Games.
The 29-year-old athlete, who competes in the +78kg category, is a multiple European champion and World Championship medallist - but so far an Olympic medal has eluded her.
"In previous Games, if I'm honest, I haven't performed to my best," she admitted.
"I know deep down that my best is potentially enough to win a medal. So all I can do is go to the Games, do my best, and hopefully I will come away with something.
"I learnt a lot from the last two Games, especially from Athens. I know I got a couple of things wrong there but hopefully between myself and the people around me we will manage to put it right this time.
"Winning a medal is something I've dreamt about ever since I started taking judo seriously when I was about 12."
For Scotsman Burton Beijing will be his first taste of Olympic action. He lost out on qualification for Athens by one fight and admitted it was "heartbreaking at the time"; but the man who won bronze at last year's World Championships is determined not to let the magnitude of the Games become a distracting factor.
"Until the 12th of August, when I step on to the mat, I'm trying to think of it as just another judo tournament," he said.
"There is not going to be any alien from Mars who springs up on the mat that I've never seen before, it is all going to be guys that I know, guys who are world class and the best at my weight.
"However, once I've finished fighting, I hope I'm able to enjoy the rest of the Games because while the one thing that every athlete really wants from an Olympic Games is to be successful and win Olympic medals, I think after that you have to try and savour the Olympic experience."
The other competitors who will represent Britain in Beijing are: Sarah Clark (-63kg), Michelle Rogers (-78kg), Craig Fallon (-60kg), Winston Gordon (-90kg) and Peter Cousins (-100kg). Every one of them can be considered a medal prospect.
If any of the team ends the competition with a gold, silver or bronze, they will probably react in the same way as Bryant and Burton.
"You probably wouldn't be able to get the medal off me," they both joked.
That is quite a statement, given the country's prolific record in judo at the Olympics.
It took Britain eight years to win their first medal after the sport was introduced to the Games in Tokyo back in 1964, but since then the various teams have brought home an impressive total of 16.
Despite that Team GB are looking to get out of a bit of rut in Beijing, having won just one medal since the Barcelona Games 16 years ago.
What is more, a Briton has never won a gold medal - seven silvers and nine bronzes make up the haul.
However, Euan Burton, who will compete in the -81kg weight category, believes that the Brits have what it takes to shine in China.
"All seven players selected have won medals at the World or European Championships in the past," he told Eurosport. "It is a really strong team, and I think everyone is capable of winning a medal.
"I don't think you go to the Olympic Games to finish 15th. You go to try and become an Olympic champion and I think I'm definitely capable of winning a medal, as are the rest of the team."
One competitor who is certainly desperate to get on to an Olympic podium is Karina Bryant (pictured right), who will be making her third appearance at the Games.
The 29-year-old athlete, who competes in the +78kg category, is a multiple European champion and World Championship medallist - but so far an Olympic medal has eluded her.
"In previous Games, if I'm honest, I haven't performed to my best," she admitted.
"I know deep down that my best is potentially enough to win a medal. So all I can do is go to the Games, do my best, and hopefully I will come away with something.
"I learnt a lot from the last two Games, especially from Athens. I know I got a couple of things wrong there but hopefully between myself and the people around me we will manage to put it right this time.
"Winning a medal is something I've dreamt about ever since I started taking judo seriously when I was about 12."
For Scotsman Burton Beijing will be his first taste of Olympic action. He lost out on qualification for Athens by one fight and admitted it was "heartbreaking at the time"; but the man who won bronze at last year's World Championships is determined not to let the magnitude of the Games become a distracting factor.
"Until the 12th of August, when I step on to the mat, I'm trying to think of it as just another judo tournament," he said.
"There is not going to be any alien from Mars who springs up on the mat that I've never seen before, it is all going to be guys that I know, guys who are world class and the best at my weight.
"However, once I've finished fighting, I hope I'm able to enjoy the rest of the Games because while the one thing that every athlete really wants from an Olympic Games is to be successful and win Olympic medals, I think after that you have to try and savour the Olympic experience."
The other competitors who will represent Britain in Beijing are: Sarah Clark (-63kg), Michelle Rogers (-78kg), Craig Fallon (-60kg), Winston Gordon (-90kg) and Peter Cousins (-100kg). Every one of them can be considered a medal prospect.
If any of the team ends the competition with a gold, silver or bronze, they will probably react in the same way as Bryant and Burton.
"You probably wouldn't be able to get the medal off me," they both joked.
Seán Fay / Eurosport
FONTE (photo include): Yahoo! Eurosport - London,UK
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário