Renick James is Going to the Olympics
It has been announced that track and field athletes Katy Sealy and Brandon Jones will represent Belize at the Olympics 2016 in Rio. While the Sealy selection has stirred controversy because Kaina Martinez will not represent, tonight, we can report that twenty-eight year old judo instructor and athlete Renick James has been chosen as a wildcard for the judo competition at the Olympic Games in Brazil. James has competed in an international match in Costa Rica and has been training for years. After several months of preparation with karate, judo and jujitsu trainers, James believes he’s ready to make his country proud.
Renick James, Judo Athlete
“I was caught off guard but still excited at the same. We had to go through a whole process of just preparing, getting ready. In the process, I had the opportunity to work with the Red Dragon Karate and Judo and Jujitsu Academy where I am an instructor also there. So we just went through the whole preparation process, try to find my body and get the tension out. Now we are ready to go and represent. We are expecting to put Belize on the map, if we could. I am going to put my hundred out there to represent our people and see it as a war.”
Renick James
Duane Moody
“Now you’ve represented Belize internationally before, in several competitions. Talk to us about how that along with your preparations that you are putting in now, will make you ready for the Olympics.”
Renick James
“Yeah, I did the minor Olympics…it’s on a smaller scale, but it still was the Olympics all the same. Got an opportunity to meet a lot of people; I had some fun meaning the competition was tough and that was my first one. So I was extremely nervous, but still did my best to do the best that I could. After that, we came back with a different mindset and a different way to approach judo so our level has stepped up. My level has stepped up from then so I am more prepared to step out there and when I am on the mat, it is all about fighting, all about putting out for my country basically. My strengths are in standing. There are two aspects of judo—the standing and ground aspects of it. I am more stronger at standing so I am definitely going for standing techniques, trying to get that hundred points, maybe try to apply my defense as best as possible.”
The Belize delegation leaves the country on Monday. James says his first match will be on August tenth before which he will continue to prepare.
