After a successful junior career, Kelly Petersen-Pollard has made the seamless transition to the senior ranks. The European Junior Champion has medalled at multiple Grand Slam events. Here she talks to LK about her career…
EARLY YEARS
How did you get involved in your sport?
I started judo age 4, I used to go along to my local primary school to Cobra judo club and watch my mum and brother train and on my fourth birthday I was invited to come on and give it and try and have never come off the mat since!
Tell us about your first success in your sport?
My first ever competition was age 4 a part of AJA (amateur Judo Association) in Castle Vale. The minimum age was 5 years old however to gain some experience and have some fun I was entered… only to go on and win all my fights and come home with a gold medal. At the age of 8 my mum decided to transfer me from AJA to BJA (British Judo Association) to Hardy Spicer judo club under a very experienced coach Fitzroy Davies. Fitz progressed me through cadet winning medals nationally and internationally, carrying on to Junior where I became World Junior No1 and Junior European Champion and eventually to reaching top 10 in the world and Winning 3 Grand Slam medals. I currently train full-time at the British Judo National training centre in Walsall, still under the watchful eye of my coach Fitz.
HEROES
Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
From a young age my sporting hero was a fellow club member of mine which was Craig Fallon, one of British Judos Best Ever Male judoka to date and true British Judo Hero. Watching how Craig trained day in day out inspired me, how he conducted himself on the mat as well as of the mat was someone I wanted to be like. His Mindset towards judo and his winning mentality was something not many people have. When times get tough, and training or competition doesn’t go well I ask myself “what would craig do” to pick myself back up and work and train harder.
TRAINING
How often do you train?
At the British National Centre we train 5 days a week, often travelling abroad for comps and training camps regularly as well.
Describe a typical training day
A typical day for me is morning rehab and prehab followed by some technical drilling which leads nicely onto randori (sparing). A small lunch time break and then either conditioning or strength training in the gym. Then I go home for a sleep/University work and dinner and train on the night time with my club coach working on my technical.
What is your favourite training session/exercise/drill?
My favourite training session has to be anything judo related, Randori and technical I love as I am doing the sport I love and want to get better at.
Best piece of advice from your coach?
One of your competitors is working as hard as you are, therefore, you must ensure your working harder and smarter, mentally, physically, and technically to be the best.
Which part of your body suffers the most in your sport?
My hands! They are terrible, every finger is swollen, no rings fit on my finger, and they look very manly!
What’s the toughest thing about being an athlete?
Everything, life of an athlete isn’t easy, training day in day out, through the aches and pains, missing family events and sacrificing a lot of life outside of judo to be the best in judo. However, it’s what I love to do and will do it every day until I become No1 and the best in the world, if it’s easy it’s not worth having!
