Competing at the United States Open Judo Championships in Florida between Aug 1-3, the three person team comprising young students David, Lea and the latter’s father, Dojo instructor Alexis Plantard, won 10 medals for their efforts.
Six-year-old Lea led the way with three gold medals and one bronze. Her golds came courtesy of winning divisions in the under 7 years of age class, the junior weight class (-24kg) and an open weight class (+24kg), with her bronze coming from competing in a higher age group.
Lea was also awarded three separate specialist trophies acknowledging most victories by an athlete in the junior age group, most victories among all of the 3,000 athletes contesting the overall tournament, and for second fastest victory in the junior class after she overcame an opponent in just seven seconds.
Lea’s teammate David fought a gruelling 19 matches in three days, finishing on the podium in three divisions out of five he contested and picking up a gold, silver and bronze medal in the process.
Always one to lead by example to his students, Alexis also picked up a three medal haul, winning silver in the adult master -100kg weight class against Vadym Synyavsky of Ukrine and gold while representing team Europe against team USA.
However, his most satisfying result was the bronze he won in the adult senior -100kg. Regarded as one of the toughest divisions on the international judo circuit, Alexis finished behind Russian national team fighter Nikolai Kovalenko and Geronimo Saucedo of the USA national team in what he said he considers one of the most prestigious results of his career.
Rounding off the accolades, Alexis also won a separate trophy for second quickest victory of 10 seconds in the adult class and Dojo Phuket team secured an overall rank of 22nd out of competing 100 teams.
Great promise
Prior to this the same three-person team competed at the USA Judo Nationals in Honolulu, Hawaii between July 19-20 where they won nine medals to finish an impressive 9th place out of 63 teams comprising 780 athletes.
Lea once again demonstrated the great promise she clearly possesses as she won gold in her age group of 6 years and below in two separate weight classes of -24kg and +24kg, before stepping up to the under 8 years age -24kg class where she excelled to win bronze.
Alexis landed a hat-trick of golds by defeating 19-year-old American Cole Palacio in the -90kg open age group, Hawaii resident Everett Pavo in the -90kg senior age group, and Brad Padua in the
-100kg senior age group. These three victories took Alexis’ overall medal haul at the USA Judo Nationals to an impressive eight gold and four silver.
Unfortunately for David luck wasn’t quite on his side in this tournament as strict rules meant he was disqualified in two separate final matches from his 10 contested.
“In the one match he was disqualified for pressing and holding down the elbow of his opponent while on the ground, while he was similarly disqualified in another for executing an armlock,” explained Alexis.
“Such techniques are acceptable in most international tournaments but not in the US, unfortunately.
“Still, despite the disappointment, David fought very well against very tough opponents and the experience will serve him well for his development and future contests,” Alexis added.
Understandably, the Frenchman was bursting with pride when describing the performance of his own daughter Lea across the two challenging stateside tournaments.
“I can’t really find the appropriate words to explain how proud I am of her in every way,” he told The Phuket News.
“Considering she is only six years old, watching her perform and achieve such fantastic results is truly incredible.
“For one so young she has already competed at 31 international and national tournaments and won top awards at competitions in the US, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Nepal. I am incredibly proud of her,” Alexis said.
The Dojo Phuket’s new premises is due to open shortly and classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced students run Monday through Saturday, with everyone welcome. For more information visit their Facebook page.