JUDO: The 2012 London Olympics could prove a watershed tournament for the Australian Judo team, with the emergence of new talent coinciding with the potential finales of some of the country’s most experienced exponents of the sport.

By his own admission, Australia’s best-decorated judoka Daniel Kelly suffered a disappointing end to his fourth Olympics and was non-committal when prompted of his desire to continue at the elite level through to 2016.

But while his loss in his first round bout against Ukraine’s Artem Bloshenko denied him a chance to showcase his known technical ability as a world class judoka, the performances of young up and coming members of the team who he’s taken under his wing did it for him.

None more so than -90kg player Mark Anthony, who stunned the judoka world with his first round defeat of medal favourite Varlam Liparteliani.

The fancied Georgian was expected to uphold his country’s iron-grip on the division, earned through gold medals to Zurab Zviadauri in 2004 and Irakli Tsirekidze in 2008.

Instead, it was 22-year-old Anthony’s spectacular 'ura nage' throw which not only crushed the hopes of Liparteliani and his country’s vaunted record, but announced to the world the green and gold has a judoka to be feared.

That Anthony failed to progress any further following quarter final and repechage losses didn’t matter – he said after the tournament ended it was a win that confirmed he belonged on the world stage.

So too does Arnie Dickins, who, like Kelly, didn’t get much of a chance to show his wares against another Georgian in Betkili Shukvani in the -60kg division. 

Dickens entered the first-round bout on the back of a savage weight-cut that saw him shed 10kg in two weeks, forcing him to a restricted training regime. He hopes to be back in 2016, this time in a higher weight division.

Meanwhile, Australia might have its newest female judo coach in 29-year-old Carli Renzi.

Renzi went down to impressive Frenchwoman Automne Pavia in her first round fight, declaring afterwards it was her intention to ensure more youngsters in Australia get involved in the sport.

Other results to round out Australia’s judo campaign at the 2012 Games were Round of 32 losses to Ivo Dos Santos (v Colin Oates, -66kg) and Jake Andrewartha (Chris Shepparton, +100kg).

Doug MacDougall in London
olympics.com.au