There was a time when Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown considered leaving judo altogether.
When her older sister Jenny was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Yeats-Brown instinctively wanted to step away from her sport to spend as much time as possible with her sister.
However, Jenny insisted that Katie-Jemima should pursue her Olympic dream.
That dream became reality at the Arena Champ-de-Mars on Wednesday, where Yeats-Brown competed in the women’s 70kg category.
The 29-year-old from Pembury won her first fight against Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy from Madagascar but was narrowly defeated by Austria’s Michaela Polleres in the round of 16.
While disappointed by her Olympic run ending, Yeats-Brown emphasized the significance of her journey to this point.
She said, “I was going for one more attack and she ended up catching me. It’s been a tough journey to get here. I’m proud to have got here after everything I’ve been through, but there was more in me.
“Two years ago, I was at rock bottom. My sister passed away. Part of me was going to hang the kit up, but part of me wanted to get to the Olympics.”
And she did, with friends and family traveling to watch her compete. The stadium was packed, with judo being a favorite sport for French fans at these Games.
Yeats-Brown relished her Olympic debut.
“My friends and family were all in the crowd. I wanted to put on a bit of a show for them. I love fighting in France. France is the ultimate judo show, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. I love fighting for the crowd on the big stage. I’m just gutted that I’ve finished now.”
Watch every moment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live only on discovery+, the streaming home of the Olympics.
