Judo: Burton targets European medal after putting Beijing behind him

EUAN BURTON headed into the international wilderness following British Judo's disastrous showing at the Beijing Olympics – but the 31-year-old Edinburgh athlete insists he's back and better than ever ahead of the up coming European Championships.

The former world and European bronze medallist formed part of Team GB's much-hyped seven-strong squad which returned empty handed from China two years ago.

Burton's miserable 2008 was compounded by a shoulder injury before the year was out and, on his return, the 81kg judoka limited his appearances on the world circuit, opting to iron out his technique in private. But, after bouncing back with a bang by taking silver at a Grand Prix event in Dusseldorf, Germany and winning a Grand Slam in Tokyo earlier this season, Burton is preparing to raise his head above the parapet again for a tilt at European glory in Vienna, beginning today.

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"Last year was a year when I concentrated more on the technique of judo and worked on the technical side of things rather than going to loads of competitions," said Burton, who will share the limelight with fellow Edinburgh judokas Matt Purssey and Sally Conway in Austria. "Because of the injuries and the major operation I had on my shoulder at the end of 2008 it was the best thing for me.

"You would never be able to say whether it was on the back of that that I have had probably my two best results of my career in the last few months. I will never know whether these results were on the back of that change of approach last year or not because it might have happened anyway.

"But, either way, I am delighted with the form I am in going into the European Championships.

"Those events have given me a lot of confidence and I am at a stage in my career now when I don't want to be going to events like the European Championships and win just a medal, I need to be targeting the top of the podium."

Burton began the season in spectacular fashion by claiming gold at the Tokyo Grand Slam with a surprise victory over South Korea's Kim Jae-Bum in December. And, despite following that up with a silver medal two months later in Dusseldorf, Burton has warned his rivals the best is yet to come as he bids for European and world glory in 2010.

"Between the European Championships this year and then the World Championships later in the year I need to be really focusing on winning tournaments all the way up to London 2012," added Burton.

"The World Championships have to be the biggest event of the year for me though and they will be every year now until London 2012. What was great about the silver medal in Germany last month was that I wasn't feeling in top shape. It wasn't that I was not well or struggling with injury I just didn't quite feel right for some reason, I'm not sure why.

"But to not feel great and still come away with such a good results was absolutely fantastic for me because sometimes at a tournament you might not be feeling at your best for some reason. You can't guarantee to be feeling on top form for every tournament but you can't just write a tournament off if you are not in good shape. So to get a silver medal when I was struggling a little bit was great and everything is looking good for the Europeans."

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