After missing out on selection for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, Natalie Powell has set her sights firmly on Rio 2016. Despite being the highest ranked British female judoka in the -78kg category two years ago, the Welsh star was overlooked for eventual silver medallist Gemma Gibbons. Powell prefers to reflect positively on the set-back though and that’s worked out well.
She was crowned the Commonwealth Games champion in Glasgow this year, beating Gibbons in the final. The 24-year-old was in the UAE for the IPIC Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam last week.
Were you disappointed that your tournament only lasted one match, and what do you put your loss down to?
I’ve competed quite a lot over the past few months and just felt a little bit flat and unable to push the pace as much as I felt I was capable of. I’ve decided not to compete now until next year and take a few months to train and work on stuff. That will hopefully put me in a better position at the beginning of next year.
What was the standard of competition like and was the Grand Slam a big target for you coming into it?
Grand Slams are one of the highest competition levels in judo. Only the Worlds and Olympics would be of a higher standard, particularly now in qualification when everyone is keen to get as many points as possible.
Was it your first trip to the Middle East and what did you make of the city. Did you get to explore much of it while you were here?
I’ve been to Abu Dhabi a couple of times previously. I competed in the Grand Prix on two separate occasions where I picked up a couple of silver medals. We sadly don’t get that much time to explore, as we leave more or less immediately after competing.
Last year I did get to look around the (Grand) mosque which was amazing. Next year when I go I’m really keen to have a look around Dubai.
Where are your targets for the rest of the year?
The rest of the year for me is just going to involve training now. Some of the team are flying out to Japan and Korea to compete at the end of the year. I feel my time is probably better spent training at this point in the cycle, as there is very little time to make improvements when you’re away competing and travelling so much.
Is the main aim Rio 2016 and do you want to be the top ranked GB female in the -78kg category?
Yes, everything I do at the moment is targeting Rio. To qualify I must be in the Top 14 on the world ranking list as of May 30, 2016, and also be the No1 Brit on the list.
You were crowned Commonwealth Champion in the UK. How does that rank among your career achievements?
The Commonwealth Games were such an amazing experience. That is definitely up there with my career highs, along with wining the Astana Grand Prix last month. I’ve had lots of invites to events and dinners, sadly most of which I’ve not been able to attend due to competing all over the place.
I went to Downing Street and met the Prime Minister which was pretty cool. I was also really excited to be invited to the British Sports Awards in Glasgow this year, which I’ve always been a fan of.
How did you first get introduced to judo?
I started judo because a few of my friends in school were doing it. My mum took me along to the local club in Builth Wells – Irfon Judo Club – and I never left. I did so many sports as a kid, and it wasn’t until my second year of university that I really decided to focus on judo and take it up full time.
Who have been your sporting and/or personal inspirations and why?
As a child I always really admired Denise Lewis. I really liked the fact that she was so good at so many disciplines and I wanted to be just like her. I’m quite into tennis and I really admire the way Andy Murray has broken through to win Wimbledon. The way he has been able to cope with the pressures put upon him from the British press shows such great strength of character.
What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you in your career?
Not being selected for London 2012 was pretty upsetting at the time. But looking back I don’t think I was actually ready for it. Back in 2012 I was the No1 Brit in my weight but I had very little international experience and was nowhere near a medal hope. I had only really been training full time for six months prior to the Games, whereas others would have been training full time for the full four-year cycle.
I am in a much stronger position mentally and physically now, with a lot more training and experience behind me. To miss out on Rio now after putting in so much effort would be devastating.
I also suffer with severe migraines which are induced by judo, they have at times severely affected my training and competitions. I had to pull out of my first Grand Slam final which was completely gutting and have also had to miss extended periods of training as a result of them.
Gemma Gibbons won a lot of praise for her performance at London 2012 but, as you said, you were actually ranked higher than her prior to the Olympics. Does your omission from London drive you on for Rio?
Only one of us can go to Rio and I’m determined to put 100 per cent into making sure it’s me. Off the mat Gemma and I get on really well, she’s a really nice girl. It would probably be easier if she wasn’t so nice.