Chiltern Way Academy teacher leads GB Adaptive Judo Team at Oceania Asia games

The Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022 (OA Games 2022) is an international multi-sport event in the Oceania Asia region for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment.

This is the first time a Virtus Regional Games has been held for the Oceania Asia region, with hundreds of athletes from more than 25 nations coming to Australia.

The OA Games 2022 celebrated people’s diversity, sport, ability and culture in a major sporting event allowing athletes to compete on a world stage.

Great Britain entered a Judo Team after the Virtus European Championships were cancelled. This was seen as an excellent opportunity and preparation for the 2023 Virtus World Games in Paris and a pathway to the Paralympics.

Head Coach Matthew Rush, who is a teacher at Chiltern Way Academy in Wendover, said, “It has been a highly successful day for the team with some brilliant Judo on display. We have seen some exceptional performances from the team, and we have all made new found friendships through the power of sport and judo.”

Skye Westwood, who is coached by Matt at Rush  got the GB medal train rolling. She won her opening contest with ease, defeating her Australian opponent and met her fellow British teammate Nikki McDermont in the final round. She won, to add the Oceania Asia Games title to her impressive collection of titles.

The team continued to be successful throughout the day with an impressive performance from Joshua Hughes, who was making his debut following his recent classification. He faced a strong Japanese opponent and current All Japan Adaptive Champion, to win by Ippon and take the Gold.

In total The Great British Team won 7 Golds, 3 Silvers and 3 Bronzes.