Gisborne judoka Sydnee Andrews wins silver at Panamerican & Oceania champs
It was Andrews' third appearance at the continental championships and came just two weeks after she placed fifth at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup in Croatia, further underscoring her rising profile on the world stage.
Reflecting on her Santiago performance, Andrews said she was 'feeling good coming into the weekend' and credited her team coach and fellow New Zealand team members for their support.
Andrews trains with the Camberley Judo Club in the United Kingdom but was home over the summer holidays, during which she trained and helped with coaching at her Gisborne club.
Gisborne head coach Jason King was delighted with Andrews' showing in Chile and said it augured well as she looked towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The now-22-year-old made her Olympic Games debut at the 2024 Paris Games after winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Her success and development have seen her become part of High Performance Sport New Zealand's Tailored Athlete Pathway Support programme, which provides selected athletes with financial backing and performance services tailored to their stage of development.
This support enables her to train and compete at the highest level year-round.
At Camberley in London, Andrews trains full time under head coach Luke Preston.
The centre is a hub for elite international judokas and provides an environment that supports her Olympic aspirations.
She will remain in London for most of the year, returning to New Zealand at the end of the season.
Next on her schedule is the Benidorm European Open in Spain, followed by a four-day training camp as she continues her push to remain in the top end of the world and Olympics ranking lists.
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