Shaun Mitty Secures Gold at Judo World Veteran Championship Despite Injuries

A judoka, who sustained a broken rib and toe, attributed his victory at the Judo World Veteran Championship to the surge of adrenaline. Shaun Mitty, aged 54, residing in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, participated in the three-day contest held in Las Vegas from November 4-7. The four-time British champion, who began practicing judo at seven years old, emphasized his resolve not to accept a silver medal, even with his injuries, following extensive dedication. He stated, “I wasn’t going to let a broken rib get in the way.” Mitty secured his position as the sole British gold medallist of the tournament within the M5 -90kg category, triumphing over competitors from Brazil, Spain, the USA, and Sweden. He expressed, “I was ecstatic, you work very hard for these things.” He added, “It took six months of solid training to fight”. His injuries led him to contemplate withdrawing from the competition and accepting a silver medal. In the sport of judo, participants unable to compete typically appear on the mat to “bow out,” a gesture of respect towards their adversaries. “Luckily the painkillers kicked in,” he remarked. He concluded, “The excitement overall is everything. That enabled me to dig deep and do it.”