The Commonwealth Games hold some of the most important memories of Jemima Yeats-Brown’s life.
Four years ago, the Pembury judo player won her second Commonwealth Games bronze, just weeks before her older sister Jenny tragically passed away from terminal brain cancer.
Her call-up last week means that this summer will mark not only her third Games but her first without her biggest supporter on the sidelines.
And despite the painful memories selection for Team England brings, Yeats-Brown is ready to unite her family together in a celebration of judo and her sister’s memory at one of her favourite events.
“I’ve always thought Commonwealth Games are where I feel the happiest,” she said.
“I was on holiday in Center Parcs for the first one when I got the call-up. There was an injury in the team, so that’s how I got in and I had to borrow a judo kit, so within 48 hours I’d gone from being on holiday to winning a Commonwealth Games medal.
“My second one was the last one my sister got to see before she passed away and she loved watching me doing judo. So the Commonwealth Games have always brought my family together in different ways, celebrating, sometimes sad.”
Judo was the saving grace for Yeats-Brown following her sister’s death, throwing herself into the sport as a way of grieving.
It meant that she competed at the World Championships a week after Jenny’s funeral before winning bronze in the prestigious Abu Dhabi Grand Slam just four weeks after.
“Judo was my coping mechanism and outlet,” she said.
“It’s unbelievably hard. You’re flying around the world, competing at Grand Slams, making weight, warming up, going to training camps, but for me, that was how I switched off.
“Everyone is different and it was just how I coped. Judo brought me back from that difficult time.”
Yeats-Brown made her Commonwealth debut for Team England at Glasgow 2014 and now 30-years-old, will be back for her third in the very same place.
Two bronze medals hang on her wall for Team England and the judoka is ready to add to that collection in Scotland, battling back from ACL and rib injuries in recent years to confirm her selection.
But where medals are always the aim, Yeats-Brown knows first-hand that there are more important things than winning.
“In March, I actually broke two ribs, so that’s what has been keeping me out at the minute,” she said.
“But in the grand scheme of the injuries I’ve had, I would say it’s been quite a nice one.
“I would love to win it. Every athlete goes into a tournament to win. If you don’t, you’re probably doing it for the wrong reasons.
“But at the same time, judo’s so hard, unpredictable. And with my life experiences now, life is too short. If you give your best and you get a medal, great, but if you don’t, there’s a lot worse things than not coming away with a medal.”
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