British Judo and the British Olympic Association have announced their 14-strong squad for London 2012 and 23-year-old Danny has been selected to compete in the U73kg category.
The Shrewsbury-born student is enrolled on a BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching, which is judo-specific and endorsed by the European Judo Union. Danny combines his study at Anglia Ruskin with full-time training at Camberley Judo Club in Surrey.
Danny said: “I am very happy to have been selected to fight in the Olympic Games. It has been a hard four years training full-time at Camberley Judo Club to try to gain an opportunity to compete in London.
“I aim to become a coach when I finish my competitive career so I have also been fitting in my studies at Anglia Ruskin University, who have been very supportive. I cannot wait to get onto the mat on 30 July but there is still a few more hard weeks graft to go before then!”
Bob Challis, Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Anglia Ruskin, said: “Having a student in the Olympic Games is fantastic, and our aim is to now build on this in the coming years and have multiple members of the British judo team coming from Anglia Ruskin.
“Our judo programme at Anglia Ruskin seems to grow every day and involves full-time athletes, judo-specific research, high performance coach education and a recreational programme. This diversity allows students like Danny to achieve their dreams whilst also gaining an education.”
Danny won his latest medal on 23 June at a European Cup event in Prague, Czech Republic. He has spent most of the last two months in Japan and Korea, training with other members of the Great Britain judo team.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “It is very pleasing to announce a full complement of 14 judokas to compete for Team GB at London 2012. This is the first time we’ve been able to select an athlete in every weight category so it’s a great opportunity for British judokas to show that they are capable of, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, on the greatest sporting stage.”
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Andrea Hilliard on t: 0845 196 4727, e: andrea.hilliard@anglia.ac.uk
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Danny aims to be champion of the world!
28 June 2012
Anglia Ruskin University student Danny Williams is heading to the Olympic Games after being included in the Great Britain judo team.