Judo: Faith set to tackle the world
TODMORDEN judo star Faith Pitman admits consistency holds the key to success on the road to London 2012 – and insists next month's World Championships is the perfect place to start.
Pitman, 25, is one of 21 Brits heading to Tokyo in September to take on the world's finest as GB look to improve on Karina Bryant's solitary silver medal last time out in Rotterdam.
The former Todmorden High School pupil, admits she has not had the best of seasons thus far, and returned from the recent German European Cup in Hamburg with little to shout about.
But she has revealed it has all been a dress rehearsal for the World Championships and she is adamant she will be all right on the night in the Far East.
"I'm pretty excited about the World Championships in Tokyo, which should hopefully help me to perform to my best," said Pitman.
"We haven't been competing at quite such a high level recently, instead focusing more on training and lower level tournaments to improve technique.
"We're now stepping up and fighting in higher level tournaments again, so we're all improving quite sharply now I think.
"My form has been OK in the run-up to this tournament. I used the German Open in Hamburg more as a training exercise so I didn't perform brilliantly but it was useful and got me a little bit more consistency.
"It is really exciting to think we've got London 2012. It's something I think about on a daily basis and I think it's going to be a huge opportunity for an amazing experience.
"I'd like to get more consistency over the next couple of years, particularly in my results. Having done so many B Tournaments, we need to step that up and take on harder opposition."
Great Britain have returned from the last two Olympics – in Athens and Beijing – with nothing to declare and have to go back to Sydney 2000 and Kate Howey's silver for their last medal.
But Pitman is adamant home advantage will make sure London 2012 is not third time unlucky.
"I think we're incredibly lucky to be holding the Olympics in London and I hope more people start coming together over it, and not just in the judo, because I don't think people realise just how massive it is as an event and what an opportunity it is for the country," she added.
"More generally, I'd like to win more medals, first at European level, then World level, and finally, hopefully, at the Olympics too."
Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012. LloydsTSB.com/London2012
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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