After nearly a year away from competition, British judoka Jemima Yeats-Brown returned to the international stage in emphatic style on Saturday, 5 July, claiming gold at the Tallinn European Judo Open, and doing so on her 30th birthday.
The event marked Yeats-Brown’s first appearance since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and her victory symbolised a personal milestone in a journey defined by resilience, reflection, and renewed perspective.
“Before every fight, I reminded myself: You are here because you want to be because you enjoy it. Not because you need points or have something to prove,” Yeats-Brown told us post-competition.
Following Paris, Yeats-Brown took an extended break from judo, first to rest and reset, then to recover from knee surgery. She spent nearly five months away from the tatami altogether before resuming training but unlike many athletes chasing ranking points or pressured timelines, she resisted the urge to rush back.
“I could probably have been back for the Europeans,” she admitted. “But I didn’t want to fall into the trap of constantly chasing the next event. I gave myself time to train properly, to feel good in my body again, and most importantly, to return when I felt mentally and physically ready.”
Her measured approach paid dividends in Estonia, where she worked her way through a tough -70kg field to reach the final. There, despite being thrown early, she regained control and secured the win with a hold-down, demonstrating both her experience and her instinct.
“I got caught early on, but JP [her coach] stayed calm in the chair,” she said. “He just told me to take my time, and I did. I managed to find an opening and hold her down. I guess being flexible helps; I used to do gymnastics, I was trapped, could not see but felt an opening, committed to it and it worked.”
Yeats-Brown celebrated with a quiet smile rather than theatrics. It wasn’t just another title, it was a quiet affirmation of everything she had worked through.
“It’s a pretty good birthday present,” she said. “I didn’t even tell most of the team it was my birthday, they only found out through different bits of information but for me, it’s also a thank you to all the people who helped me get back: the coaches, physios, S&C staff, psychologists. It’s a shared result and a birthday present together.”
Reflecting on her experience in the lead-up to Paris 2024, Yeats-Brown was open about the toll it took.
“That cycle broke me in ways I didn’t even realise at the time. I had injury after injury. I lost my sister during qualification, and I never really stopped to process it, I just kept going. I competed at the World Championships five days after her funeral.”
It was only during a rare moment of pause on holiday after the Games that the full emotional and physical cost became clear. Despite the expressive weight of the past year, Yeats-Brown remains quietly ambitious. Asked whether the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are on the radar, she didn’t hesitate.
“I would love to go to LA. I would love to win an Olympic medal. In Paris, every fight was close, not close to medalling, necessarily, but the margins were tight. That gave me confidence. Still, it will be year by year now. No rushing.”
As for her weight class, she is firmly settled at -70kg after briefly considering a move to -78kg following some strong performances last season.
“I had a decent run at -78kg, fifth at Worlds, fifth in Paris Grand Slam, some big wins against top girls, but the truth is I am not big enough for that category. At -70kg I feel strong and natural. I walk around at 72–73kg, and I don’t do extreme diets. I want balance, if it’s someone’s birthday, I’ll have cake and even with sticking to -70kg, I can still do that.”
With Tallinn behind her, Yeats-Brown isn’t rushing into anything, not even planning her next event. “Right now, I will enjoy this. The hotel has a nice sauna, so that’s the plan for tonight.” she laughs. “Then I will check in with the coaches on Monday and see what comes next.”
Her return, however, has already made a statement: that high-level judo is still very much part of her story but now on her own terms. “I’m just enjoying judo again. That’s really what it’s about now.”
Author: Szandra Szogedi