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Elvis Gordon

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British judoka

Elvis Gordon
6th Dan
Personal information
Birth nameElvis Anthony Gordon
NicknameThe Cat
National teamEngland
Born(1958-06-23)23 June 1958
Hanover, Jamaica
Died6 May 2011(2011-05-06) (aged 52)
Wolverhampton, England, UK
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight132 kg (291 lb; 20.8 st)
Sport
Country Great Britain
SportJudo
Weight classHeavyweight (over 95kg)
RankRokudan
ClubWolverhampton Judo Club (1971–1992)
Neil Adams Club (1992–1993)
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking2nd (1987)
Medal record
Men's Judo
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Edinburgh +95
Gold medal – first place 1990 Auckland Open
Gold medal – first place 1990 Auckland +95
Representing  United Kingdom
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1987 Essen Open
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1988 Pamplona Open
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Hamar Open
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Paris Open
World Cups/Continental Open
Gold medal – first place 1989 World Masters Rüsselsheim +95
Silver medal – second place 1989 Tournoi de Paris +95
Silver medal – second place 1992 World Masters Munich +95
European Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Paris Team
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Dubrovnik Team
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Leonding Team
International Tournaments
Gold medal – first place 1981 Welsh Senior Open Cardiff +95
Gold medal – first place 1985 British Masters Birmingham +95
Gold medal – first place 1985 British Open London +95
Gold medal – first place 1986 German Open Rüsselsheim +95
Gold medal – first place 1987 Scottish Open Edinburgh +95
Gold medal – first place 1988 Matsutaro Shoriki Cup Tokyo +95
Gold medal – first place 1989 British Open London +95
Gold medal – first place 1991 Scottish Open Edinburgh +95
Gold medal – first place 1991 British Open London +95
Gold medal – first place 1992 British Open London +95
Silver medal – second place 1982 Dutch Open Kerkrade +95
Silver medal – second place 1983 Dutch Open Kerkrade +95
Silver medal – second place 1984 British Open London +95
Silver medal – second place 1984 Belgian Open Gent +95
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Belgian Open Gent +95
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Tournoi de Paris +95
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Tournoi de Paris +95
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Sungkop Tournament Seoul +95
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Wolverhampton Judo Masters Open
Bronze medal – third place 1990 British Open London +95
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Belgian Open Championships Visé +95
Bronze medal – third place 1993 British Open Birmingham +95
Bronze medal – third place 1995 US Open Macon Georgia +95

Elvis Gordon (23 June 1958 – 11 May 2011) was a Jamaican-born English heavyweight judoka who won numerous medals representing Great Britain. He competed for Great Britain at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic games. Gordon won silver in the 1987 World Judo Championships, was European champion in 1988, and Commonwealth champion in 1986 and 1990. He retired from competitive judo in 1993, and subsequently competed at the 1994 Sumo World Championships as a wrestler in the heavyweight category. 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.

Early life

Gordon was born on 23 June 1958 in Hanover, Jamaica. He emigrated to Britain with his family in 1967, settling in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. 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.

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.
  • In 1986, he won the bronze medal in the 95 kg weight category at the judo demonstration sport event as part of the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

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. In 2010, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died in May 2011. 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."

See also

References

  1. ^ "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. p. 64. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via InfoTrac.
  2. "Dan Grade Register: Elvis Gordon". British Judo. 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  3. Nicksan, Philip (4 April 1993). "Gordon's argument tarnishes his sport: Off-mat mayhem mars British Open". The Independent. London. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. "Judo champ cancer death". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. 8 May 2011. p. 18. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via InfoTrac.
  5. "Why region shines at producing Olympic champions". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 23 August 2001. p. 2.
  6. Chadband, Ian (27 November 1994). "Elvis can't help falling in love with sumo". The Sunday Times. London. p. 18.
  7. "British Masters Championships 2009" (PDF). British Judo. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  8. Weaver, Paul (12 November 1994). "Elvis in canvas nappy shock: Paul Weaver on the expanding sumo career of Britain's former top judo man". The Guardian. London. p. 19.
  9. Nicksan, Philip (17 September 1985). "Adams out to beat the world". The Times. London. p. 26.
  10. "British Championships - Event results". Judo Inside. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  11. "Commonwealth Games Edinburgh - Event". Judo Inside. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. "Judo champ Elvis Gordon loses brave fight with cancer". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  13. "Judo champion Elvis Gordon is fighting cancer". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  14. "Gym named after judo legend Elvis Gordon". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2016.

External links

European Judo Championships — Men's Openweight
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