We all know about the world bronze medal from Budapest in 2017 and we know about the world silver medal from Baku in 2018. We know those medals put her in a list of only 15 British judoka in history to have won 2 world medals or more in their careers; chasing magical names such as Neil Adams, Karina Bryant and Craig Fallon. We know Nekoda has a habit of winning medals at Grand Slams and Grand Prix events and we know that with all of this success she is still a humble, hard-working home girl, with a massive future still ahead of her. There is a lot to like underneath the public face too and Nekoda has shared a little of that
World Championships Seniors Baku 2018, -57 kg, DEGUCHI Christa, DORJSUREN Sumiya, YOSHIDA Tsukasa, SMYTHE-DAVIS Nekoda (c) Sabau Gabriela

1

Nekoda has an obsession with turtles, owning over 40 ceramic and fluffy turtles. “I love them. They’re so cute. I pick them up everywhere on my travels.”

2

Growing up Nekoda wanted to be a doctor. She was a top flight student, working hard to obtain and maintain good grades, managing her time around sport and contributing to the running of the family home. As judo became a bigger and more serious part of her life those goals changed and now Nekoda is looking forward to training to become a primary school teacher, in her retirement from elite competition. We shared a giggle at this change, as before coaching I was a primary school teacher.

3

Nekoda’s upbringing in a flat in North-West London, with her single mum and younger brother, was a far-cry from the lives of her other 7 siblings. All born and raised in Jamaica, they are now living in the USA and Jamaica and until very recently Nekoda hadn’t met any of them. She met one sister, Latoya, in Florida in 2016, taking a trip to meet her after the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Then in December 2018 she flew to Jamaica and met siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends, in a whirlwind of love and catching-up. She also met her father for the first time. “I felt at home and at ease with my family, though now being away from them is very difficult, harder than ever.”

World Championships Seniors Baku 2018, -57 kg, FINAL GBR SMYTHE-DAVIS vs JPN YOSHIDA (c) Sabau Gabriela

4

Despite first stepping on to the tatami at the age of 6, Nekoda had never competed or trained outside the UK, until obtaining her first passport, ten years later, at 16. She had been GB number 1 in her first Cadet year but couldn’t travel due to the lack of documents. A year later the passport arrived just in time and Nekoda fought in Koper, Slovenia at the European Cadet Championships, her first international experience of any kind.

5

Nekoda is the first athlete in her family. Her mum is a cleaner, dad is an electrician and one sister is in the army in America.

6

I was honoured to work at the London Olympics in Lisa Allan’s ‘J-Team’, looking after administrative duties, including recruitment and scheduling of volunteers. Nekoda was one of them, alongside a number of her club-mates. Her experience in London gave her an added hunger, an extra push to feel the Olympic buzz again, but as an athlete next time… She did just that in Rio.

Tel Aviv Grand Prix 2019, -57 kg, BRONZE GBR SMYTHE-DAVIS vs FRA RECEVEAUX (c) Sabau Gabriela

7

Learning to speak Japanese has been a long-term goal, but with so much travel and the demands of an athlete lifestyle, regular evening classes were impossible. The solution? A teach-yourself-Japanese computer programme and a lot of revision and extension when training in Japan. The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games is just around the corner and arriving without a language barrier can only enhance the experience. This goal is ongoing!

8

As a youngster Nekoda took part in track-based conditioning sessions as part of her judo training. She was approached many times by the resident athletics team, who tried to poach her to become a sprinter. Judo is happy with her choice!

9

In 2004 Nekoda won her first national medal, a bronze at the British Under 12 Championships. She didn’t know it was a national championships until afterwards, just taking it in her stride as another event. It was entered only 3 months after joining her local club, having become too old for her primary school judo classes.

World Championships Seniors Baku 2018, FINAL GBR SMYTHE-DAVIS vs JPN YOSHIDA, -57 kg (c) Mayorova Marina

10

“The best food in the whole world is mum’s curry goat. Fact!” Nekoda notes that she loves food, most food, except pork chops. Pork chops are not on any Nekoda-friendly menu! She takes good care of her athlete stomach but also enjoys eating out with friends and being adventurous with new tastes… that don’t involve pork chops, of course.

Nekoda is looking forward to the milestone events later this year, the European Games and, of course, the world championships.

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