One of Woy Woy Judo Club Instructors, twenty six year old Daniel Simmons, will be among a contingent of seventy team members consisting of men and women from all states selected to represent Australia at the 2011 Oceania Judo Union World Judo Cup in Apia, Samoa in November.

This Olympic Qualifying Event will take place over three days from November 11th followed by a four day International Training Camp.

Simmons secured his spot on the National ladder in the Men’s u73kg division, after achieving 2nd place at the 2011 Victorian International Open In late August and a 3rd place two weeks later at the NSW International Open. The NSW International Open is a heavily contested tournament with many National and International Competitors from New Caledonia, Japan & France taking part.

Simmons said “I was very excited to be named in the team, I’ve worked hard this year, dedicating all my spare time to training and I am very proud to represent my country. I was fortunate to compete internationally for the first time in July at the World Cups in Miami, Venezuela & El Salvador. There I watched the World’s Elite Judo players vying for points to make the Olympic Team and although I am not yet at Olympic contention it inspired me take my judo to the next level”.

From October 24th to 29th Daniel, with his fellow team mates will travel to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to attend the National Elite Training Camp. It is here they will physically prepare for the World Cup by partaking in daily High Endurance & Cardio workouts followed by four hours of judo.

　

Simmons said “The Olympic Qualifying Competitions are so wide spread that players barely have time to acclimatize before they’re off to the next event. Samoa will be no exception with very strong Judo expected from Russia, USA, Canada, Korea and Switzerland. I am very happy with my results so far, but there is always room for improvement; u73kgs has a lot of good players and good depth, I’m definitely looking at building on a my techniques before Samoa”

Woy Woy Judo Club Chief Instructor Danny Simmons [ 5th Dan ] is aware of what his son will be up against in Samoa, himself an Australian Representative and Silver Medallist at the 1968 Oceania Championships in New Zealand.

“I’m very proud of Daniel’s selection.” Danny said. “As he knows, being an Olympic qualifying event the competition will be very tough, but hopefully all his hard work will see him win a few fights and maybe a medal. Either way just being there is a reward in itself, the experience stays with you forever so good luck to all of them”.