In 2022, Judo is making its return to the Commonwealth Games. Excluded from the 2018 Gold Coast edition, it has now earned ‘core sport’ status at the Games. Birmingham will mark the fourth time the sport has been involved at a Commonwealth Games; it also featured at Auckland 1990, Manchester 2002, and Glasgow 2014. As a sport, Judo is less about sheer vigour and might, and more about controlled strength, and tactics. The fact it gets its name from the Japanese for ‘gentle way’ exemplifies this. Furthermore, an ‘Ippon,’ which results in immediate victory, can be earned by throwing an opponent on their back in a controlled manner.
The University of Birmingham is playing a key role in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It is the host venue for the Hockey and the Squash, and is even housing the athlete within its student accommodation. Despite this, there is another way in which the University is going above its role as an ‘Official Partner of the Games.’ Birmingham can boast that several of its students and alumnus are representing their nations at the Games, in a variety of sports. This includes Judo, with the four following judokas balancing lectures and seminars with training, and competing in international competition.
Rhys Thompson
Thompson is a sports scholar at the University, dividing his time between Judo and studying towards his Physio postgraduate degree. His season so far has been successful, earning Great Britain Judo their first medal of 2022 with Bronze at the Saravejo Open. He also progressed to the second round of the European Championships, and won Gold at the 2022 BUCS Judo Championships. Thompson will be representing England.
Yasmin Javadian
A student of Dentistry, Javadian will be swapping the mouth for the mat in her bid for Gold at the Commonwealth Games. She admittted in an interview with British Judo that ‘not many people believed’ she would be able to balance her sport and her studies. She has certainly proven these people wrong; Javadian has competed on the European Open circuit this year alongside her studies. Northern Ireland is the nation she is representing.
Lachlan Moorhead
This Judoka announced himself on the world stage in 2021, during the Grand Slam event in Abu Dhabi. Moorhead won bronze in the competition, which is regarded to hold the highest standard outside the World Championships. He has also earned Bronze at the European Junior Championships, and reached the third round of the European Championships earlier in the year. At Universiy, he sudies Business Management, and will represent England.
Lauren Semple
Semple has been a key part of the University of Birmingham’s Judo team in the last two BUCS Championships. Her fights helped the women’s team earn Gold in 2020, and Bronze in 2022. Individually, she finished fifth at this year’s competition, with 2022 looking to be her biggest year to date. At the start of July, Semple made her European Open debut, winning in the first round on her way to seventh. The Biology student will be representing Jamaica.
Read next: Perry’s Trail Launches In Birmingham For 2022 Commonwealth Games