Natalie Powell and Curtis Dodge picked up senior gold medals for Wales as Cardiff’s Millennium Centre hosted the 2012 Commonwealth Judo Championships.
Fergus Dullaghan also scooped a silver medal for the hosts at this week’s tournament, the first sporting event ever held at the Cardiff Bay complex and the biggest judo competition to be staged in Wales.
Natalie saw off a robust challenge from England’s Caroline Kinnane in the final of the under-78kg division, while Curtis defeated Canadian Derek Langlois in the under-73kg category.
Both athletes see the championships as an ideal platform for future international success. Natalie, from Builth Wells in Powys, has her sights set on a place in the world’s top 100 – and even a place at this summer’s Olympics.
She must perform well at upcoming World Cup events in Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland to be in with a shot of lining up at the London games. But, at just 21 years old, she is optimistic about what the future could hold. “I have only really started taking it seriously over the last two years,” she said.
She also paid tribute to a noisy crowd at the Millennium Centre, which gathered in large numbers for the final day of competition. “I found it awesome,” she said. “I did not expect it to be so loud.” She picked up her medal from Welsh government business and enterprise minister Edwina Hart.
Among the bouts and medal ceremonies, the crowd was also treated to dance displays from young Welsh judoka and a harp recital – all part of a strategy to promote Wales and Cardiff, according to event organiser Paul Williams.
Curtis was also quick to praise the home backing he received, using many of the same awestruck terms as Natalie. “It was awesome,” he said. “I loved the atmosphere and the feeling it gave me.”
Despite taking home the gold after triumphing in an even contest with Langlois, the 19-year-old from Swansea does not have the London Olympics as his focus. This is only his first year competing in the senior section – and he has also only just moved into a heavier weight classification.
“This is my first year in under-73kg,” he explained. “I moved up from under-66. At the moment I am four kilograms under my weight division.”
But Curtis is also confident of future success – something which perhaps is not surprising for someone whose family has had remarkable success in the sport. His brother is British champion in his category, while his sister has also picked up Commonwealth medals.
“I’ll take each fight as it comes,” he said. “But I don’t think 2016 [Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games] is an impossible goal.”
“I want people to know me. With a bit of hard work I can pull it off.”