Ben - Fletcher

judo

What was your sport and how did you get into it?

Judo, I am the youngest of five children in my family and both my parents and older siblings have done judo at some stage so I naturally went and tried it as there is a big love and respect for judo in our family. I was very fortunate to have one of the best clubs in the country just down the road from me which was a massive help. I loved it then and I continue to love it now. 

Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?

Qualifying for and competing at two Olympic Games will always be a highlight for me. I was ranked as high as 6th in the world rankings and won a number of medals on the judo world tour along with winning two grand prix events. I was very fortunate to live out a childhood dream and really push myself to the limit to see what I could achieve. 

What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?

I had a number of injuries which are always difficult to come back from, the most notable was breaking my leg in 2021 just 5 months out from the Tokyo Olympic Games, but I managed to make it back and compete in record time. I also dislocated my knee cap shortly before the Commonwealth Games in 2014 which meant I missed the tournament, this was very difficult for me to deal with and was a real challenge for me to get back from.

I also decided to change nationality in 2017 and change from Great Britain to compete for my mothers home nation of Ireland. This had a lot of challenges as well but I managed to work hard and get through the difficult times to reemerge on the other side. I had a very up and down career with injuries and setbacks which is common in a contact sport like judo, but these difficulties helped me learn how best to deal with things when they don't go the way you want them to and this has helped me maintain a positive outlook and develop a structured approach to dealing with setbacks when they happen. 

What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?

I love the feeling of giving back and when you know you're having a positive impact with young people. If i'm honest it's not always like this and can be difficult but that's what makes it great when you feel like you have helped someone or inspired a young person. I have been able to work on a real range of different programmes with the trust and each one has its individual positives which keep it apart from the rest and make it a pleasure to be a part of. 

What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?

I work full time at my family's garden centre business as well as coaching judo at a number of clubs. I also have experience with one to one mentoring and coaching work. I recently finished the ILM level Five in effective coaching and mentoring. 

What life advice would you give a young person?

Be the best version of yourself you can be, expect certain standards of yourself but also know its a fine line and to know when to back off and take a step back. Ultimately if you dont enjoy your pursuit you cant be successful in it, because success is a long road and to keep at something for a long time and not enjoy it is not sustainable. So be very honest with yourself about what you want and who you want to try and be and then make educated steps towards that. But make sure you are passionate and enjoy what you're putting your energy into, that way you can really push yourself to be your best self whilst enjoying what you're doing.

To be really successful at something you have to make it your life and that does not fit between the hours of 9 to 5. That said, on the road to success you aren’t always going to enjoy everyday, but you have to love what you do to be able to really push yourself to the top of your chosen field. For me that is the best way to attempt to be successful. 

What experience do you have of working with corporate organisations? 

I have some experience working with corporate organisations and I really enjoy the different challenge of working with professionals other than young people or coaching judo, as it adds a different element. However it is still coaching and mentoring at the end of the day and it is my job to guide the coachee or mentee to where they want to get to and break down the process into smaller more manageable goals on the way to their overriding main goal.

What does Being Me mean to you?

For me 'being me' is exactly what it says on the tin, not comparing yourself to anyone else because as the phrase goes 'comparison is the thief of joy'. Ultimately you're not anyone else, everyone starts from a different place and success for everyone is different. So only try and be better than you were yesterday, last week or last year. This is true when chasing success but also how to deal with being yourself and who you are as a person. Ultimately there is and will only ever be one of you, so do what you like, be who you want to be and be unapologetically yourself. When it comes to being a coach or a mentor you have to factor that in as well, as you have the opportunity to use what you have learned and who you are to have a unique impact on the people you work with. 

Competitive Record

2021

Competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games

2019

Marrakesh Grand Prix gold medallist 

Baku Grand slam bronze medallist 

2018

Düsseldorf Grand slam silver medallist 

2016

Competed at Rio Olympic Games

2011

Junior World bronze medallist