Elvis Gordon Explained
Elvis Gordon
6th Dan |
| Birth Name: | Elvis Anthony Gordon |
| Rank: | Rokudan[1] |
| Nickname: | The Cat[2] |
| National Team: | England |
| Sport: | Judo |
| Weight Class: | Heavyweight (over 95kg) |
| Club: | Wolverhampton Judo Club (1971–1992)
Neil Adams Club (1992–1993) |
| Birth Date: | 1958 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Hanover, Jamaica |
| Death Place: | Wolverhampton, England, UK |
| Height: | 1.88m (06.17feet) |
| Weight: | 132kg (291lb) |
| Highestranking: | 2nd (1987) |
| Show-Medals: | y |
Elvis Gordon (23 June 1958 – 11 May 2011) was a Jamaican-born English heavyweight judoka who won numerous medals representing Great Britain.[3] He competed for Great Britain at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic games.[4] Gordon won silver in the 1987 World Judo Championships, was European champion in 1988, and Commonwealth champion in 1986 and 1990.[5] He retired from competitive judo in 1993, and subsequently competed at the 1994 Sumo World Championships as a wrestler in the heavyweight category.[6] In 2009, he made a brief return to judo, winning silver at the 2009 British Masters Championship in the men's 50–54 years over-100 kg category.[7]
Early life
Gordon was born on 23 June 1958 in Hanover, Jamaica.[2] He emigrated to Britain with his family in 1967, settling in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.[8] Gordon began studying judo in 1972 at Northicote School, Wolverhampton, and joined the Wolverhampton Judo Club, coached by Malcolm "Mac" Abbotts. Abbotts said of him: "I couldn't believe the strength in him, even at that age." As a teenager, Gordon drifted from judo into powerlifting, and came 2nd in the under-19 national powerlifting championships at age 15.[2] [9]
Major achievements
- 3 x times Olympian (1984, 1988, 1992)
- World Championship silver medal (1987)
- 3 x times Commonwealth gold medallist (1986 x2, 1990)
- European Championship gold (1988) and 2 bronze 1985 & 1992)
- 8 x times champion of Great Britain at the British Judo Championships 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 (+open), 1987, 1989, 1991.[10]
- In 1986, he won the bronze medal in the 95kg weight category at the judo demonstration sport event as part of the 1986 Commonwealth Games.[11]
Later life
After retiring from competitive sport, Gordon was employed as the caretaker at Moseley Park School in Bilston, West Midlands, where he also provided judo coaching.[2] [12] In 2010, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died in May 2011.[2] [13] Following Gordon's death, students at his place of work chose to name the school's new gymnasium after him. Nick Elwiss, the head teacher, said: "He was held in extremely high regard by staff and pupils and is fondly remembered by us all."[14]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Dan Grade Register: Elvis Gordon. British Judo. 2016. 10 December 2016.
- News: Elvis Gordon: British international judo fighter who won the European title and came close to being a world champion. The Times. London. 10 June 2011. 64. InfoTrac. subscription . 11 December 2016.
- News: Gordon's argument tarnishes his sport: Off-mat mayhem mars British Open. Philip. Nicksan. 4 April 1993. 10 December 2016. The Independent. London.
- News: Judo champ cancer death. Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. 8 May 2011. 18. 11 December 2016. InfoTrac. subscription .
- News: Why region shines at producing Olympic champions. Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 23 August 2001. 2.
- News: Elvis can't help falling in love with sumo. The Sunday Times. London. 27 November 1994. 18. Ian. Chadband.
- Web site: British Masters Championships 2009. British Judo. 3 October 2009. 11 December 2016.
- News: Elvis in canvas nappy shock: Paul Weaver on the expanding sumo career of Britain's former top judo man. Paul. Weaver. The Guardian. London. 12 November 1994. 19.
- News: Philip. Nicksan. Adams out to beat the world. The Times. London. 17 September 1985. 26.
- Web site: British Championships - Event results . Judo Inside . 19 August 2022.
- Web site: Commonwealth Games Edinburgh - Event . Judo Inside . 21 August 2022.
- News: 7 May 2011. Judo champ Elvis Gordon loses brave fight with cancer. Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 10 December 2016.
- News: 28 December 2010. Judo champion Elvis Gordon is fighting cancer. Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 10 December 2016.
- News: 17 October 2012. Gym named after judo legend Elvis Gordon. Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 10 December 2016.
