London 2012 Olympics: Gemma Gibbons pays tribute to inspirational mother

TEAM GB judoka Gemma Gibbons paid tribute to her late mother as she grappled her way to Olympic silver.

The 25-year-old’s mother, Jeanette, introduced her to the sport when she was six years old. Sadly her mother died in 2004 from leukaemia, but has continued to serve as an inspiration to the athlete, born in Charlton, London. As she won her quarter-final in the women’s under-78kg category, Gibbons said: “I love you mum.”

And she wept with joy and mouthed the word “mum” as she went through to the final, against USA’s Kayla Harrison.

Based in Greenwich, Gibbons is one of the Games’s local heroes. Friends and family were part of a huge crowd of British fans who created a thunderous atmosphere inside the Excel Arena where they chanted her name, clapped and stamped throughout her winning run. Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself a black belt in the martial art, were also in the crowd to watch.

Her boyfriend, Edinburgh’s Euan Burton, 33, a judo athlete who was defeated in second round of the men’s 81kg competition, took to Twitter as Gibbons reached the final, writing: “Gemma Gibbons is in the Olympic final! I’m the proudest man in the world right now. Can’t stop smiling. C’mon Gem!”

Gibbons had always been regarded as a genuine medal hope but had only recently recovered from a shoulder injury and stepped up a weight division this year.

Her wins in the British Open and silver medals at World Cups in Romania and Estonia under-78kg division earlier this year were a signal of intent.

The former Westwood College (now Harris Academy Falconwood) student, took up judo as a child at the Metro Judo Club in Blackheath, London.

She had also trained at the British Judo Performance Institute, and UEL Sports at the University of East London.