Team Bath judoka Rhys Thompson and University of Bath alumna Gemma Howell have been named in a 14-strong Team England judo squad for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
It will be a Commonwealth debut for both athletes, with Thompson continuing a breakthrough season that has also seen him make his first Grand Slam and Senior European Championships appearances.
A bronze-medallist at the Sarajevo European Open in February, Thompson is also the reigning British Champion in the -100kg weight category. He is currently competing in the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in Mongolia, the first event in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification period.
Double Olympian and current European Champion Howell missed out through injury at Glasgow 2014, the last time judo featured in the Commonwealth Games, and is delighted to finally have chance to wear the Team England judo gi.
“I’m really excited to have my whole family come and watch me,” said Howell, who trained in the Team Bath dojo from 2012-2017 while studying Sports & Exercise Science at the University. “They all had flights to the Tokyo Olympics and had to cancel because of Covid 19. I think this will be an amazing atmosphere with a home crowd.”
Also taking to the judo tatami at Coventry Arena will be Team Bath’s Gregg Varey, who was named in the Team Wales Commonwealth Games squad earlier this month.
Thirty athletes who either currently train or study at the University of Bath or are graduates have now been officially selected to compete at Birmingham 2022, which gets under way on 28th July. Visit teambath.com/Birmingham-2022 to stay up to date with all the latest news and selections.
With thanks to the Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.
