Ebony Drysdale-Daley marked a new chapter in the history books as the first ever Jamaican judoka to qualify for an Olympic Games, Tokyo, the home of judo, will welcome the first.
Commonwealth Championships gold medallist, Drysdale-Daley started judo at the age of 5 after constantly begging her mum to let her go to judo lessons with her older brother, Nicholi. A few years down the line she was watching Great Britain athletes Paula Radcliffe and Kelly Holmes in the Athens Olympic Games. However, it was not until London 2012 that she set her sights on her own Olympic dreams.
The 26 year-old judoka expressed her feelings following the announcement from the International Judo Federation;
“It fills me with immense pride and gratitude. It gives me a sense of purpose. We go through this life wanting to gain value and to add value. I think this serves both. My own personal vanity (sanity too!) and my outward love for a sport. It’s been a career goal and a life’s aspiration to become an Olympian. I want to perform well and win on the day. So, a massive part of a dream came true but not the whole part. Until I compete.
It is so special being the first. I feel a deep loyalty to ensure that I am just the beginning. Many Jamaicans will be choosing to watch Judo for the first time when I compete. It’s all very exciting. Not just for now but in the future. I look forward to seeing our Olympic and Paralympic teams grow.”
The Jamaican Judo Association would like to thank the Jamaica Olympic Association, the International Judo Federation and Fighting Films for their support during this Olympic cycle.