Judo is more than a sport.
Sally Conway of Great Britain couldn’t have put it any better. Yesterday, the European, World and Olympic medallist announced her retirement from competition which was met with countless well wishes and dedications to the -70kg athlete.
Sally has clearly made an impact on the judo community, known not only for her incredible skills on the tatami which have earned her numerous IJF tour successes, but of her infectious personality. Many will be saddened that they won’t see her smiling face and warm persona on the tour as an athlete any longer. She continues in her personal statement on social media thanking coach, Billy Cusack, her family, team mates and friends,
The life-long friends I have made and the amazing people I have met have made my time as an athlete very special. What a journey it’s been! I’ve been lucky enough to do Judo full time since the age of 16; I’ve been able to train day in day out whilst pushing myself to be the best I could be & I’ve got to travel the world doing something I absolutely love.
However my heart now tells me that it is the right time for me to take a step back from competing. Stepping onto the mat for the very first time 26 years ago I could never have imagined the opportunities, the experience & the memories I would have today.
With so many accomplishments under her belt including Grand Slam golds in Paris, Dusseldorf and Baku, she has spent over a decade triumphing and now we wish Sally the very best in her future endeavours, leaving behind a wonderful legacy.
Author: Thea Cowen