British Judo has announced its team for the 2007 World Judo Championships, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro from 13 th –16 th September.

The stakes are high for the Brits, as a medal or 5 th place finish will automatically qualify a place for Beijing, rather than having to qualify via the remaining qualification events.

Craig Fallon, who has recently returned to competition after a shoulder operation, will compete as defending World Champion. The 24-year-old, who is back in full time training, will attend a training camp this month in Japan as part of his preparation.

Karina Bryant will aim to add a gold to her haul of six World medals. Bryant, whose career has included four European titles, spent six months in Australia at the end of 2006 gaining weight and undertaking an intensive strength and conditioning period. In January she too underwent an operation but is looking forward to her return to the big stage.

The Brits will travel to Rio trying to beat the three medals won at the 2005 World Championships. In Egypt, Craig Fallon won gold in the Men’s –60kg weight category, and Karina Bryant won two medals, silvers in both the Women’s +78kg weight category and open weight category.

Euan Burton heads to Rio ranked number one in Europe in the –81kg weight category, and with his ability to rise to the occasion, will be a medal hope. As will the other experienced members of the team named so far, including 2006 British Open gold medallist Matthew Purssey (–73kg), European medallist Winston Gordon (–90kg), European medallist Peter Cousins (–100kg), former European Champion Sarah Clark (-63kg), and 2007 European bronze medallist Michelle Rogers (-78kg).

Jean-Rene Badrick will make his Senior World Championship debut. The 17-year-old is former European Cadet Champion and current British Champion in the –66kg weight category. So too will Faith Pitman, in the –57kg weight category. Having won bronze at the Moscow Super World Cup in April, she will no doubt will be on a high going into her first World Championships.

The team will attend a training camp in Japan from the 13 th -30 th July as part of their preparations for the Championships. The team will depart for Rio on Friday 7 th September.

The full line up with weight category is as follows:

Media Contact:

Emma Reed               

Head of Communications             

British Judo Association           

Tel: 01509 631 692 /Mobile: 07875 368495

emmareed@britishjudo.org.uk