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| (c) Team GB |
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| Ashley Mckenzie Celebrity Big Brother 2012 Interview (c) CBB |
KEY INFORMATION
Sport: Judo
Event - 60kg
Date of Birth: 17/07/89
Lives: Queen’s Park
Born: Queen’s Park
Height (cm): 162.00
Weight (kg): 60.00
Club: Willesden
Coach: Christopher Bowles
Ashley McKenzie’s mum introduced her son to judo after he had an altercation with
someone over Pokémon cards aged 11.He won the first World Cup title of his career in
Warsaw in February 2011 and added a second later that year in October in Liverpool.
Judo (60kg class)
Born : 17/07/89
Career highlights
The British Open champion won his first judo World Cup title in February 2011. The
Londoner won gold at the European Under-23 Championships the previous year.
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| Ashley Mckenzie (c) IamPlayingOut.com |
BIOGRAPHY
Name: Ashley McKenzie
Age: 23
Famous for: Judo
Biography:
One of Britain's best judokas, Ashley McKenzie recently competed as part of Team GB
at the London 2012 Olympics Games and, while he didn't win any medals at the biggest
sporting event of the year, he's now got his sights set on success in the Big Brother
house.
After getting his start in judo at the age of eleven, Ashley steadily rose through
the sport's ranks, winning a host of prizes including a bronze medal in the 2007
European Junior Championships and gold at the 2011 Judo World Cup.
Something of wild child, McKenzie's been banned from professional judo competition on
several occasions during his career for drinking and, oddly enough considering the
nature of the sport, fighting.
However, nowadays he insists he's mended his ways, saying: "I wasn't the greatest of
kids, I was always fighting. Now I'm calm, more mellow and look where it's got me.”
It's got you into the BB house for one thing, Ashley!
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| Ashley Mckenzie at London 2012 Olympics (c) Team GB |
ASHLEY'S STORY AT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS
Britain's Ashley McKenzie suffered an early exit from the men's judo under-60kg extra
-lightweight competition when he was beaten by Japan's Hiroaki Hiraoka, the number two
seed, at ExCeL.
The 23-year-old started brightly, but the experience of the world silver medallist
soon told.
Mackenzie fell further behind with passivity penalties mid-way through the five-minute
contest, which left an uphill battle to continue his Olympic dream, which was ended
with 50 seconds left by an ippon score.
McKenzie fought back tears as he reflected on the end of his first Olympic journey.
"I was up against the number two ranked fighter and if I had been able to get into the
competition a bit more, then I might have beaten him," the British fighter said. "He
is a tough opponent and hopefully he can finish off the day and show you how good he
is.
"It has been a hard journey for me, but I will keep going towards 2016, and hopefully
I will be filmed again and you can see my journey there.
"I tried my hardest, and I could not do any more. I am going to use this to go towards
2016.
"It is great to be an Olympian and represent Great Britain, but I want to better
Copyright © Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.
