British Judo in Paris: Did you know?
This weekend’s 2019 Paris Grand Slam is one of the highlights of the judo calendar. The AccorsHotel Arena will play host to the world’s best judoka in a world-class competition.
The Paris tournament has been a tough place for British judoka to medal at with the standard growing year on year.
This year will be as tough as ever but how much do you know about the medal success British Judo has enjoyed in Paris so far?
British Judo In Paris
- There have been 51 medals won by British judoka at the Paris tournament
- David Starbrook (-93kg) was the first British judoka to medal in Paris when he won bronze in 1973
- Loretta Cusack-Doyle was the first female British judoka to medal in Paris, winning bronze in 1988
- 1992: the year British Judo won their first gold medals in Paris with Karen Briggs (-48kg) and Sharon Rendle (-52kg) topping the podium
- A year later (1993) Nigel Donohue (-60kg) was the first male British judoka to win gold in Paris
- In total six British judoka have won Paris with Kate Howey (-66kg), Craig Fallon (-60kg) and Sally Conway (-70kg) winning gold in 1997, 2003 and 2018
- Nicola Fairbrother has won the most medals by a British judoka in Paris with five (two silver and three bronze)
- 1987 was the first year that more than one British judoka medalled in Paris
- Five British judoka medalled at the 2005 Paris tournament, all winning bronze: Sophie Cox (-57kg), Sarah Clark (-63kg), Karina Bryant (+78kg), Simone Callander (+78kg) and Craig Fallon (-60kg)
- Ashley McKenzie’s -60kg bronze in 2018 was the 50th British medal at the Paris tournament and the first male medal since Euan Burton (-81kg bronze) in 2008
GB Judo will be going for gold this weekend at the 2019 Paris Grand Slam, which starts on Saturday.
Competition will start at 9:00am UK time on both days with the final block commencing at 4:00pm UK time.
Watch all the action live on live.ijf.org and follow British Judo across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for live updates and exclusive content.
