Sarah Loko ready to represent Belgium, first start at national championships

She was victorious in the last Belgian regional championship, French judoka Sarah Loko (28 years old /-63 kg), in a quest for a Belgian passport, caused sensation in Belgium. Now affiliated in one of the biggest Belgian clubs, the Royal Inter Gembloux-Wavre (RIGW), the club of Cédric Taymans (the Sports Director of the French speaking wing of the federation), Sarah Loko multiple medalist on the international scene, did not disappoint at her first appearance in Belgium.

Loko said: "I am not here to play!" Excellent start for the one that hopes soon to fight under the Belgian flag. The presence of Loko in Belgium was meant to trigger her naturalisation.

"Since 10 years I joined the elite in France, I have never had the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games. Because I was in competition with Automme Pavia and Clarisse Agbegnenou, I already missed two Olympiads. I do not want history to repeat itself again. I thought that the best solution might be to turn to another country."

Loko is in full preparation to return to her best level after a year due to an injury. Sarah Loko chose Belgium to prove that she deserves her place at the games. The project proposed by the Belgian Federation suited her perfectly. Loko: "for example, here, nobody requested me to go back to my previous fighting weight U57 kg."

Since Gella Vandecaveye retired, Belgian didn't have a world level athlete U63kg anymore.

Sarah Loko wants to impose herself as the reference in that weight category in Belgium, and her place for the games, "I will earn it

with my seriousness, my professionalism and my results."

This Sunday, Sarah Loko will participate at the Belgian National Championships for Seniors in Bruges.