Lucy Renshall puts pain behind her in pursuit of Paris 2024 Olympic gold
BySportsbeat
Updated 28/07/2023 at 14:20 GMT
Lucy Renshall is looking ahead to challenging for Olympic gold in judo at Paris 2024, afteer finally shaking off a shoulder injury. "Looking back, I was disappointed," said the 27-year-old. "Being selected for the Olympics is one thing, but you're not just there to be selected. After a period of time, I realised I am now an Olympian and now I can change my goal. I knew I had more."
Lucy Renshall of Great Britain, 26, finished fifth after losing the u63kg bronze medal contest to the 2021 European under 23 champion, Angelika Szymaska of Poland, 22, by a wazari (7 points) in extra-time during day 1 of the 2022 Paris Judo Grand Slam (5-
Image credit: Getty Images
The pain has gone and Lucy Renshall can see clearly now the path to an Olympic medal.
Aged 14 the judo star etched her Olympic dreams in pencil on the inside of a cupboard at her parents' house in St Helens, an inscription she revisited as world No. 1 in late 2022.
Renshall has all the talent but didn't quite get the breaks in the early part of her career, particularly on Olympic debut in Tokyo, where she bombed out in the first round.
"Looking back, I was disappointed," said the 27-year-old. "Being selected for the Olympics is one thing, but you're not just there to be selected.
"In judo we compete all the time at world events and it's normal but the Olympics wasn't the norm. It all felt brand new.
"After a period of time, I realised I am now an Olympian and now I can change my goal. I knew I had more."
Renshall roared back after Tokyo, taking medals in four of the five Grand Slam competitions that followed the Games.
That fearsome run of form took her to the top of the world rankings, the first Brit to get there in five years, where she was soon joined by team-mate and Olympic medallist Chelsie Giles.
She said: "I hit world No. 1 halfway through the year and it was amazing. It proved to me that what I'm doing is right and the trust in my programme is there.
"It gave me a lot of confidence knowing I was going to events as world number one. It's an extra special feeling."
It's nothing short of mind-boggling that Renshall could get so far while carrying an injury.
She had been assailed by shoulder pain for two years and aggravated the problem just days before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with immediate surgery required.
The physical issue has now been addressed once and for all - so it's scary for the rest of the world what Renshall might now achieve, pain-free.
She said: "For the past two years, I've been struggling because I can train to a certain level and then the shoulder pain became too much and I had to take a few days off.
"After the surgery, it's completely fine and in the long run, it's really good.
"Sometimes in training, it was limiting because I couldn't do too much with the pain. Now it's all sorted, I can push myself to a higher level and train for longer. I can still definitely raise the bar, while training smart."
With the Paris 2024 Olympics only one year away, the Games are set to inspire people and communities all across the country. Renshall hopes that by sharing her story it will give others motivation to get involved into sport.
Among those standing in Renshall's way of a medal at -63kg could be France's Clarisse Agbegnenou, who has dominated the weight division in recent years.
Agbegnenou has won five world titles and grabbed Olympic gold in Tokyo, since stepping away from the sport to become a mother.
"Clarisse is an outstanding fighter, but I know if I want to get where I want to get, I've got to beat her," said Renshall.
"I just see her as any other athlete, I've got to plan how I would beat her, so hopefully on the day if it comes, we have a plan and can stick to it.
"Clarisse and I have fought three times now, the last one in 2020. She's beaten me three times but they have been really close.
"I'm not too far off beating her. I'm confident that I've got a lot better since I last fought her. I think I've matured a bit in judo, I know what I want and how to get it."
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