Michael's Story
Michael Picken emerged as one of Australia’s leading lightweight judoka during the late 1970s. Competing in the men’s 71-kilogram division, he won the Oceania title in Melbourne in 1977. He followed that success with three consecutive Australian championships from 1978 to 1980.
Picken was 25 when he made his Olympic debut at Moscow 1980. His opening contest brought him against Britain’s Neil Adams, who progressed to the gold-medal bout and enabled Picken to enter the repechage. The Australian defeated Cameroon’s Maurice Nkandem to keep his medal hopes alive.
Picken’s campaign ended with defeat by Poland’s Edward Alkśnin in his second repechage contest. He was awarded equal seventh place, Australia’s best result in the men’s lightweight judo event at those Games. Picken later returned to national competition and won silver in the 78-kilogram division at the 1984 Australian championships.
