Anthony Clarke (judoka)

For other people named Anthony Clarke, see Anthony Clarke (disambiguation).
Anthony Laurence Clarke

Anthony Clarke and Ian Rose at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia
Personal information
Full name Anthony Laurence Clarke
National team  Australia
Born 19 June 1961
Adelaide, South Australia
Residence Windsor Gardens, Adelaide
Occupation judoka; motivational speaker; author
Other interests music
Website http://www.anthonyclarke.net.au
Sport
Sport Judo
Disability Visual Impairment
Disability class B1
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking 1st (1992 - 1998)
Medal record
Judo
Paralympic Games
1996 Atlanta Men's 95kg
FESPIC Games
2006 Kuala Lumpur Men's 90kg

Anthony Laurence Clarke, OAM[1] (born 19 June 1961) is the only Australian Paralympic judoka gold medallist.[2] He represented Australia at five Summer Paralympic Games[3] and was the Australian Judo Champion in 1998 and 1999, defeating sighted opponents.[4]

Personal life

Clarke was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 19 June 1961.[5] He left home at 15 and began work as a 'sanitation engineer' or garbage collector.[6] In 1978 Clarke lost control of the wheel and drove his car into a Stobie pole.[7] He watched his hands, which were clasped, fill with blood until he passed out. His mother Marjorie permitted the surgical removal of his right eye, and the accident left Clarke blind. She later recalled a doctor saying that Clarke was "a good advertisement for don't drink and drive".

Clarke learned braille, and in the 1980s, a range of computer skills using screen-reading technology. When he acquired a guide dog, he spent two and a half years travelling Australia and New Zealand. In 2004 he recounted to ABC television presenter George Negus, "you're standing on the side of the road with your thumb out. And you make sure the dog is well visible to get a sympathy lift."[8]

Career

Four years after judo was introduced to the Summer Paralympic Games, Clarke represented Australia in the Men's up to 78kg event at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain.[9] He was the first of two Australian judoka to compete at the Games[10] (the other was Desiree Allan).[11] Clarke lost to Brett Lewis (USA), Joel Gichtenaere (FRA) and Javier Sainz (ESP) by ippon, waza-ari and koka in the Group A preliminaries.

At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, he defeated Run Ming Men (CHN) in the Men's up to 95kg Final.[12] He was an official torch bearer at the 2000 Summer Olympics[13][14][15] At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, he lost to Ian Rose (GBR) in the 1/8 finals. [12] At the 2004 Athens Paralympics, he lost to Oleg Kretsul (RUS) in the quarter-finals of the Men's up to 90kg.[12] In his final Games, he lost to Oleg Kretsul (RUS in the quarter-finals of the Men's up to 90kg.[12]

He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder from 1996 to 2000 in judo.[16]

Achievements

Australian judoka Anthony Clarke competes on his way to a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Paralympics

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony Clarke (judoka).
  1. ↑ "Anthony Laurence Clarke". It's an Honour: Australia Celebrating Australians. Australian Government. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Beijing 2008 (PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2008. p. 80.
  3. ↑ "Anthony Clarke". Historical Results Database. International Paralympic Committee. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. ↑ McGarry, Andrew (4 September 2008). "Judo". Event Guide. ABC. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Beijing 2008 (PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2008. p. 80.
  6. ↑ Negus, George (9 August 2004). "Anthony Clarke". ABC. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Meeting 3932 - 11 November 2014" (PDF). The Unley Rotarian (Rotary Club of Unley). 11 November 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Negus, George (9 August 2004). "Anthony Clarke". George Negus Tonight (Transcript). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Anthony Clarke". Historical Results Database. International Paralympic Committee. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Beijing 2008 (PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2008. p. 79.
  11. ↑ Athens 2004 (PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2004. p. 53.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Anthony Clarke". International Paralymp;ic Committee Historical Resulots Database. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Wilde, Kevin (1999-07-17). "Blind judo champion". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  14. ↑ "Anthony Clarke, ASM, OAM - Paralympian". e-Bility Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  15. 1 2 "1998 World Blind Judo Champ - The Final Results". International Judo Federation. 1998-07-19. Retrieved 2006-01-13.
  16. ↑ Nihil, G. (2006). Australian Institute of Sport : celebrating excellence. Focus Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 1-921156-16-3.
  17. ↑ IBSA medal tally for Anthony Clarke
  18. 1 2 "Judo". Blind Sporting Council. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-01-13.
  19. ↑ Media Guide - Athens 2004. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2004.

External links

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