Natalie Powell experienced enough to set Olympic goals

The Olympic Games in Rio were just the warm-up for Natalie Powell. The Tokyo Games are going to be the Ippon. Powell was bronze medallist at the 2018 World Championships and she aims for the podium at her second Olympic Games. With several medals at Masters, Grand Slams and Grand Prix World Tour events, this claim is for real.

In a conversation with Diana Suess, the Welsh/British judoka revealed that judo was not her favourite sport from the beginning. She talks about making weight and her decision to go back to Wales.

Powell: “I’m really excited. Time will go fast now; I remember from the previous Olympic cycle the last 6 months just went like that. I think last cycle there were a lot of competition with me and Gemma Gibbons were going head to head for the last cycle. So, we didn’t know who was going until the masters right at the end, so that took a lot of energy. I think I was so happy I was finally going. Afterwards I was just exhausted. With this cycle I have learned that I will be going for quite some time, so I can actually just focus getting ready for the Games. The cycle where I haven’t been to the Olympics was a massive achievement, where this cycle is where I want to get the medal rather than just qualifying. In the past it was much more about volume getting the hours in doing Judo, now I am smarter about my training. It is not so much about volume but about the quality of each session. So the feeling is very different, still very exciting.”

Perfect conditions

Powell: “Rio was very cool! Obviously my first Games and I have nothing to compare it to, but it wasn’t as safe as we were told.Don’t go out the village, be careful who you get in a car with, always travel in groups. But I don’t think it will be like that in Tokyo. Rio was a controversial choice as a site of the Olympic Games in terms of infrastructure. Tokyo is capable.”

“Last cycle I was way underweight I was 75/76kg so there was no problem. I fought U70kg when I was 18 or 19 years old and I made weight really bad. I was like 80kg dropping to 70kg. So, I was like I will never make that weight again. When I went up to U78kg I my weight leveled out at 75/76kg. This cycle we decided to build up some weight now I am at 78/79kg. So that’s perfect. You have more energy. In my first competition U78kg I thought „where does this energy come from? “. You just don’t realize how much it takes out of you.

Powell: “There is a real problem in Judo. I did it for way too long but in Judo there is this culture that kind of forces you into it.”

“I was about eight when I started Judo, a few kids in my class did it so I went with them and one by one they quit. I stuck in there and ended up here somehow. It’s funny because when I was younger, I was really into different sports like Athletics, Netball, Tennis so Judo was never my favourite sport. I always wanted to go to the Olympics, but I thought more athletics not Judo. So, it wasn’t until I went fulltime at the age of approximately 20 that I decided I want to go to the Olympics in Judo. It’s funny with Athletics and Tennis, I simply lost enjoyment that never happened with Judo. I think it’s because Judo is around through the year and there are no seasons, it’s always there. So, before I knew it, I was just doing that.

But still I think it would be nice if they would include a 2- or 3-months break into the year. So many injuries happen, so I think it would be good for everyone to have a little rest.”

Back to the roots

Powell: “Up until now I have been on the UK Sport National Funding for the last seven years potentially. They fund athletes that train at the National Centre based in Walsall. However in November I got off funding because I went back to Cardiff because I feel it’s better for me and my coach is there. Now Wales supports me and if it wasn’t for Wales, I wouldn’t have funding.”