Elvis Gordon

Elvis Gordon
6th Dan
Personal information
Birth nameElvis Anthony Gordon
NicknameThe Cat[1]
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[2]
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.[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.[1] 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.[1][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 95 kg 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.[1][12] In 2010, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died in May 2011.[1][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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "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.