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Gemma HowellBritish judoka
Date of Birth: 13.06.1990
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Gemma Howell
Gemma Howell is a British judoka who competes in the category of 'up to 63 kilograms'. She was born in Telford, England and developed an interest in judo thanks to her parents. It all began when her father, Peter Howell, took eight-year-old Gemma to his school, where he gave a lecture on the training of judo champions. Gemma was fascinated by her father's stories and soon started practicing judo herself. Interestingly, Gemma is not the only athlete in her family, as her younger sister Philippa is also actively involved in sports.
Olympic Games 2012
Gemma had ambitious plans for the 2012 Olympics, which were being held in London, her home country. However, her Olympic journey was short-lived due to a disqualification in her very first match. Gemma fought against the current world and European champion, Gevrise Emane from France. The disqualification came after Gemma violated the rules by using a prohibited leg grab during the match. The rules banning direct attacks to the opponent's legs had been introduced after the previous Olympic Games, and Gemma either forgot about them in the heat of the moment or simply neglected them. Gemma claims that desperation led her to make the forbidden move, as she was already trailing in points and saw no other way to close the gap.
Road to Recovery
The defeat was a bitter blow for Gemma, especially considering the challenges she had overcome to even make it to the Olympics. Nine months prior, she had suffered a serious knee injury that jeopardized her participation in the Games. It wasn't until March, after undergoing a complex surgical procedure and months of rehabilitation, that Gemma was able to resume full training. By June, she had joined the British national team.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment of her disqualification, Gemma remains determined to make a comeback. While she will have to wait four years for another shot at Olympic gold, she knows that there are plenty of prestigious competitions for judokas beyond the Olympics. Gemma is focused on preparing for the upcoming competitions in Rio de Janeiro and is hopeful that she can make up for her unfortunate performance in the future.
Inner Struggles
Gemma is her own harshest critic and understands that she must answer to herself for her actions. She refuses to succumb to depression and believes in her abilities to reach even greater heights. Gemma is fortunate to have the support of her family, who have always stood by her side, and it seems that her teammates also hold her in high regard.
Overall, Gemma Howell's Olympic journey may have had a disappointing start, but she remains determined to prove herself and achieve success in the future.
