JUDO: At just 21 years of age Nathan Katz is ticking off his career goals a lot quicker than even he expected.

After originally being focused on making the Tokyo 2020 Games, back-to-back Oceania titles shot the young judoka up the rankings and helped him all but secure his spot at a debut Olympic Games in Rio.

His final major step on the road to Rio comes this weekend when he gets to take on the world’s best at the Masters event in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“The Masters is the next biggest event to and a slight step down from the Olympic Games and World Championships so to get an opportunity to perform on this stage just a few months out from Rio will be a great experience and something I'm looking forward to,” said the -66kg fighter.

“I've now fought a few times in the last 6 months at Grand Prix and Grand Slam level and performed well, but having missed out on the Senior World Championships last year due to injury I'm excited for the opportunity to perform against the best in the world on a massive stage.”

Following his Oceania success, Katz has been building towards Rio with a series of tough tournaments and training camps in Europe.

After training in England and performing well at the Baku Grand Slam he headed to Japan.

“It was very tough out there with strength and conditioning the first thing each morning before about an hour of technical drilling judo in the morning and between two to three hours randori (sparring) with the Japanese in the evening.

“I was supposed to stay out there another week with my brother Josh (also in a secure qualifying position) but received the invitation late last week to fight in the Masters so my flights were changed and I did a light taper for Mexico.”

With only the best athletes at the competition, the Masters will provide a perfect warm-up for Rio.

“Getting the opportunity to fight some of the top boys in my weight in the world is fantastic.

Being outside the Top 8 means I won’t be seeded in the Masters or the Olympic Games so preparing for a tough first fight against one of those top boys will serve as great preparation.

“Having another chance in a competition environment at finding ways of beating some of these top boys will be very beneficial in a few months in Rio, to give myself the best chance to upset some of the seeded competitors.”

As with most athletes as the Games approach Katz will be travelling the globe in search of the perfect preparation.

From Mexico he will head to Sydney, potentially fight in the National Championships in Geelong, compete in his last event before Rio in Budapest, head to Barcelona for a camp and then arrive in Brazil two weeks early to continue training with the Australian Team.

If all goes to plan then Katz believes he can upset many of his more fancied rivals in Rio.

“Me and my coaching team have always believed that 2020 was going to be where I would be at my best and where my clear goal was to become Olympic Champion.

“Being only 21 and my first year out of Juniors I'm by no means one of the top contenders to win an Olympic medal... ‘on paper,’ but I feel like with each major event I'm fighting in, that I'm getting closer and closer to breaking through to that top 20 level.

“There are so many external factors surrounding the Olympic Games that the best athletes often aren't the ones seen on the podium so I feel confident that with a great preparation, physically, mentally and tactically along with rocking up on the day focussed and believing, that anything can happen.

“I believe my best is good enough to cause some major upsets at the Olympic Games this year so every day I'm doing everything I can towards achieving that.”

Katz competes Friday night Australian time with live results available here>>>