Judokas join GB team’s medal charge in Germany
ARU’s Lucy Wiliams and Katrina McDonald fly out to the World University Games
Lucy Williams, left, and Dr Katrina McDonald in their GB Students kit ahead of the World University Games
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is set to play a key role in the GB Students’ medal charge at the World University Games, taking place in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany.
ARU student and top-ranked British judoka Lucy Williams is part of the three-woman judo squad, which is being coached by ARU lecturer Dr Katrina McDonald, and the pair fly out to Germany today.
The World University Games is one of the largest multi-sports events to be staged this year, attracting around 8,500 student athletes and officials from over 150 countries.
Lucy has represented Great Britain at senior level and is currently ranked as Britain’s number one in the over 78kg category. She’s studying for a Masters in Physiotherapy at ARU’s Cambridge campus, having originally completed a BSc degree in Sport and Exercise Therapy at ARU.
Lucy won a bronze medal last summer at the European University Games in Hungary, and she’s joined in the GB Students women’s judo squad this week by Tatum Keen and Summer Shaw.
“I am super excited for the three athletes selected. Even though it's a small team, the judoka are of excellent calibre, and all are looking to medal. It's a high-level tournament with current Senior World Champions in the event.
“Keeping a high level of training whilst studying is commendable but in judo, as a combat sport, it is truly remarkable. The athletes have worked really hard for this opportunity, and I am delighted to be able to assist in this part of their judo journey.”
Dr Katrina McDonald, Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at ARU and the squad's coachThe World University Games have a long history – the first precursor event to the Games, the International Universities Championships, took place in Paris in 1923 – and the biennial event was last held in Chengdu, China in 2023.
Judo is one of 18 different sports being contested at the World University Games, and the judo competition begins in the city of Essen on Wednesday.