JUDO: It was not meant to be for Australian male Judoka Bryan Jolly at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing China. The teenager may not have possessed the strength shown by his opponents, however showed strength of another kind.

“I’m pretty guttered,” he said at the conclusion of the match. “But I shall come back stronger for the next one.”

Jolly was defeated in the Bronze Medal match by Karaka of Turkey, who overpowered him in a match that lasted the full four minutes.

On Day 1 of competition, the Turk managed to wrestle Jolly to the ground on several occasions and dominated him in the grapple.

“He was just too strong,” Jolly said.

The Victorian, who first took up Judo because he was being bullied, showed steely determination to give one hundred percent to the end of the match.

It was a tough competition with both the world number one and world number two in Jolly’s category.

He will return to Australia with the resolve to improve his strength and skills.

“I want to get home and learn some new skills,” he said. “I will hit the gym and get stronger.”

“I need to work on my transitions and my footwork.”

Jolly sees the YOG as an important stepping stone in his Judoka career and is aiming to represent Australia at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His ambition is to be an Olympic gold medallist.

The next Australian judoka to compete is 18-year-old Naomi de Bruine, who will compete in the Women’s 78kg category on Day 3 of competition.

Frances Cordaro
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam