Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 12:00
Wokingham judo star sets sights on 2012 Olympics
By Jonathan Kelly
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Looking ahead: Judo ace Ben Fletcher
A FUTURE Olympic hopeful is set to benefit from a cash injection to find emerging British sporting talent.
Sixteen-year-old judo ace, Ben Fletcher from Wokingham, has been picked by Lloyds TSB to be one of only 250 emerging athletes to join their Local Heroes initiative.
The Emmbrook School pupil who has just celebrated getting three Bs and five Cs at GCSE, will now receive £1,000 in funding to help in his development as he is not yet eligible for World Class lottery funding.
As part of the scheme, Ben had the chance to fly out to Beijing with Team GB and see his favourite sport being practised at the highest level.
Ben said: “It was amazing to watch the judo at the Olympics especially Craig Fallon who is world champion and British, and I even know him.” Having seen the thrills and spills of Olympic competition, Ben is determined to be there one day himself even if the London 2012 games may come too soon for him.
He said: “I think I might be too young for 2012 but I’m not counting it out. It’s more likely I’ll make the 2016 games instead because you don’t reach your peak in judo until your late 20’s.
“It would be great to perform in front of your home crowd and I wouldn’t need to qualify for the competition if we are hosting it.”
Don Werner, who has been coaching at Pinewood Judo Club for 50 years, also believes that Ben’s best chance may be the 2016 games.
He said: “If he wants to he can go all the way. He’ll be in line for 2016, that’s his aim. 2012 is a bit early for him. He’ll be 22 or 23 when he comes into his own.
“At the 2012 games he’ll be 20 and might be good enough and have enough power and I hope he does, but realistically he’ll be a prospect in 2016.”
Ben already has a string of successes under his belt having travelled to various countries including the Ukraine, Belgium, Holland, France, Italy and Spain to compete, but the trip to China was the best yet.
Ben said: “We hardly ever get to go to Asia and being able to see the Olympics was an amazing opportunity and I’m very thankful for it.
“I was only out there for six days so I only saw the judo but watching them perform live was the highlight of my trip.
“Seeing it live is so much better because you get caught up in the atmosphere and you get a much better feeling for it.”
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