Tony Sweeney 9th Dan

Sweeney started doing judo in 1956 as a member of University of Bristol Judo Club. He went on the captain the university in 1958 and played a leading role in University Judo development as a co-Founder of British University Judo Association. In the same year he organised and competed in the Great Britain team at the first European University Judo Championships in France. Sweeney went on to represent Great Britain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 1965 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro and was a time three time European medallist in 1963, 1964 and 1965. He was also an active IJF Referee for 23 years from 1967 to 1990. Sweeney has been involved in the administration of British Judo since the 1950s and has held a variety of roles including Refereeing and Selections Committee member, Chairman of Technical/Coaching and as representative on the British Judo Executive Committee. He is currently the President of the London Area and President of the Budokwai. In his role as an Honorary National Coach and as an instructor at the Budokwai, Sweeney has been associated with the development of many international players and Olympic medallists. Sweeney has taught judo in schools in west London and organised the Independent Schools IAPS Championships for the first five years of the event.