A University of Chichester student has become a double world champion by winning the World Judo Championships in Turkey for a second consecutive year.
Ben Quilter (29), who is studying for a masters degree in sport and exercise physiology, won gold in the 60kg weight category, a result which makes him the number one seed going into next year’s London Paralympic Games.
Ben combines his training at the British Judo Performance Institute in his home town of Dartford with studying for a masters degree at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.
Last year, he became Britain’s first visually impaired judo champion for 12 years, but he said he found retaining the title a different experience.
“While I am pleased to have won the event, I have not experienced the same euphoria as when I won first time around,” he said. “I did not perform as well as I know I can, but I think that is because my opponents knew I was world champion and concentrated on being defensive against me rather than trying to beat me. Having said that, if I can win a World Championship when I am not at my best, that can only be a good thing!”
The final major competition before next year’s London Paralympic Games is the European Championships, which is being held in Crawley, UK, in November. Ben claimed silver last year and will be hoping to go one better this time around.
In the coming months, he will also be spending time working with fellow athletes from GB Judo as part of his masters degree. He said: “I am doing a weight manipulation study, which will involve working with judo players to monitor their fluid balance, how this affects their ability to make their weight, and how to maintain their hydration status once they have made their weight.”
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