Double jiu jitsu silver as Chloe steps up for dad
A Fort William woman has carried on her late father’s legacy of sporting excellence with a display of remarkable skill and determination.
Competing at an AGP tournament in Montrose, Chloe Macintyre’s tenacity for the sport of jiu jitsu shone through as she fought her way to two hard-earned silver medals.
The day-long competition featured intense five-minute matches where victory could be achieved through accumulating points or forcing an opponent to submit within the time limit.
A Commonwealth Games cyclist, Chloe’s father Jason Macintyre was killed in an accident at Carr’s Corner in 2008 when he was out training on his bike.
Driven by his memory, the 24-year-old from Fort William stepped onto the mat with unwavering focus, armed with the training she has received from her dedicated coaches.
Chloe, who trains at Lochaber Fight Team run by Dean Cameron and Stewart Macmaster, prepared for the competition with Eddie Lopez her experienced instructor at the 7.30pm Monday night class at Unit 1, Corpach.
Sharpening her techniques and honing her physical abilities, she immersed herself in the intricacies of jiu jitsu week after week.
The Monday night class served as a solid foundation for her journey towards the competition while she sought additional training to elevate her skills to the next level.
Personalised one-to-one sessions with Dean Cameron were designed to push Chloe beyond her limits and prepare her for the gruelling challenges she would face in the competition.
Her first match on the day saw her face off against determined opposition with the final round seeing her engaging in a hard-fought battle, with both competitors giving their utmost effort.
Despite her valiant performance, Chloe narrowly lost on points, securing a well-deserved silver medal in the weight category.
Undeterred by the setback, Chloe summoned her resilience and embraced the open weight category.
In this division, she encountered two formidable opponents from the prestigious HMAC gym, led by cage warriors champion Ross Houston.
Bolstered by the confidence gained from her sessions with Dean, Chloe stepped onto the mat with unwavering determination.
During her second match, Chloe showcased her technical prowess, executing a flawless triangle choke that left her opponent with no choice but to submit. The crowd erupted in applause, witnessing Chloe's mastery of the submission hold.
This remarkable victory propelled Chloe into the final round of the open weight category, where she would face her toughest challenge yet.
In the final showdown, she found herself locked in a battle against a highly skilled and resilient opponent.
For three minutes Chloe demonstrated her dominance, accumulating points and establishing a lead. However, in the final two minutes, her adversary mounted a fierce comeback, securing vital points and narrowly surpassing Chloe’s score.
Despite the heart-wrenching loss, Chloe emerged with an admirable silver medal in the open weight category.
Reflecting on her journey, Chloe expressed gratitude for the guidance she received from Eddie and Dean.
“The Monday night jiu-jitsu class with Eddie and the extra tough one-to-one training sessions with Dean truly prepared me for this competition,” she said.
“Their unwavering support and expertise pushed me beyond my limits and helped me showcase my abilities.”
Chloe’s outstanding performance in the Montrose jiu-jitsu competition has truly brought honour to her late father’s memory.