Olympic medallist returns to Hinckley to help future judo athletes

Chelsea Giles won Team GBs first medal of the Tokyo games.

At just 24 years of age Chelsea Giles has certainly ticked a number boxes some athletes never meet in their lifetimes. Ranked in the top ten in the world in Judo going into the Tokyo Games, she sealed her very first Olympics with a bronze medal. Yet when she was faced with 15 or so kids in a judo class in United Strength and Conditioning gym in Hinckley, the blushes were still there.

What made this even more surprising is the confidence with which she answered our questions before the training session. 

"I'm getting used to being interviewed now," Chelsea said referring to the six or seven she had to do following her medal triumph.

The Coventry local was back at the Gym where she had been doing her strength and conditioning training in the run up to Tokyo, with the help of former Olympic-reserve judoka Wayne Lakin. They will be working together during the shorter run-up to Paris 2024. 

Wayne had invited Fosse 107 to sit in during the children's Judo training. It was clear that even the youngest of them had heard of Chelsea. We asked her how it must feel to be a role model for children at such a young age herself. 

"Whenever I've had parents say that their kids watched it, it's very nice to hear I've already started to inspire a new generation."

She added, "It was my sister's first session last week...to see her enjoy it was really nice to see and hopefully they'll enjoy it as much as I did."

Indeed when it was time to switch partners during the training session, you could hear whispering to their children to pick Chelsea just so they could a grab a photo.

Family came up a number of times in our interview, with Chelsea dedicating her medal to not just her relatives and friends but also the people of Coventry and Wayne himself. 

"I think it [winning the medal] made it even better especially with the year that we've had. To see the joy that it brought my friends and the people near where I live just made it extra special.

"The medal is not just for me, it's for my family, Wayne, my coach, and all the people who helped me get there."

But Chelsea is not content with settling for just a single bronze.

"Obviously everyone goes to the Olympics for a gold medal and hopefully I'll make the step up if a make the next games."

With Paris only being three years away rather than for, there is not much time for Chelsea to relax. Qualifying begins in May next year.