The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McWatt’s 2020 vision after injury nightmare
Judo: European bow just first step as Scot eyes Tokyo Olympics
Two years off the mat helped make Stuart McWatt into a better judoka as he prepares to make his bow at the European championships.
McWatt, from Inverurie, injured both anterior cruciate ligaments back-to-back and invested his rehabilitation time wisely, analysing where he could improve his performance and improving his mental strength.
In his first senior contest, at the age of 18, McWatt took bronze at the European Open in Glasgow in 2015.
The high was shortlived – a few weeks later he ruptured his first ACL.
After coming through his first rehab programme, he returned to judo at the end of 2016; however, a month later he was back on the sidelines again with the same injury.
The thirst for competition drove him on and he came back again in September, taking bronze at the European juniors and then finishing fifth in the worlds.
His first senior Europeans, in Israel, is one for McWatt to relish, after the challenges of the last two years.
He said: “I love training and I love winning so that’s what kept me going.
“I’ve got a really good base back home, with the judo club, my family and friends, who gave me a lot of support.
“When I did my first one it was a shock, as I’d had a good first year in juniors, but there was a few of us injured at the same time so it wasn’t too bad.
“I did my other one as soon as I came back – it was a lot harder mentally to keep the motivation.
“It seems weird to say but even though I missed two years, I’ve come out of it a more rounded player.
“I’m mentally stronger, I know how to manage my body better and, coming back on the mat, I’ve done video analysis to work on things I can do better.
“There’s a lot of areas that I can improve on and I had to put the time in.”
McWatt, who trains with British Judo and hails from Garioch Judo Club, has been in Georgia on a four-week training block and flies straight to Tel Aviv ahead of the Europeans on April 25.
Long-term, he has the goal of making the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but climbing the under-81kg rankings is the first aim for the 20-year-old.
McWatt said: “The main aim is to start medalling at grands prix, getting up the rankings and qualifying for the Games.
“It would mean the world to qualify and compete for an Olympic medal.
“It’s my first senior Europeans and while I’ll try to medal, the main aim is to put in a good performance.
“It’s time to crack on, work hard and get results.”
“I love training and I love winning so that’s what kept me going”