It was a special day for a young group of judoka last week as they got the opportunity to meet HRH The Duchess of Cambridge at the London Stadium as part of a demonstration for SportsAid.

SportsAid helps the most promising young British athletes by providing them with financial support, recognition and personal development opportunities during the critical early stages of their careers. The Duchess has been the Patron of SportsAid since 2013.

Judo was selected along with a handful of other Olympic sports for the event dedicated to championing the parents and guardians of talented young athletes while highlighting the important role they continue to play in British sporting success.

The visit came just a matter of months before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games get underway and The Duchess spent time with currently supported SportsAid athletes, as well as several of the charity’s most famous alumni, as they showcased a series of throws and techniques.

Performance Pathway Manager Tim Ellis was delighted that judo was invited along to the event and had the opportunity to showcase the sport to HRH.

“Sports Aid is a critical partner for British Judo with many athletes receiving valuable support in meeting some of the costs of competition and training to help them progress onto the GB Performance Programme, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”

“The strain on young people and their families is really tough and this support really helps families to manage the balance of commitments.”

“Personally I am so grateful for the work that Sports Aid do and was pleased that we, as a sport, could support the day last week, and it was really exciting for some of the athletes to meet HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.”