Last weekend judoka Nekoda Davis made her comeback in the international circuit. The young mother returned on Saturday with a fifth place at the European Open in Oberwart. Despite a loss for bronze against Nadja Bazynski (GER) the former world silver medallist looked impressive.
“It feels so good to be back competing! Two years and 10 months since my last competition in 2019. A long term concussion injury and the decision to have my baby girl in there too. I fought 63s to take the pressure off for the first one and just to feel the mat again! It was a blast! I had 4 fights and ended the day with a 5th place. It has set me up nicely for fighting this weekend again in Italy at 57kg. I really does feel good to be back! Thank you for all the support, literally means the world to me” said mother Davis.
Nekoda Smythe-Davis took a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships in Baku and claimed the bronze one year before in 2017 in Budapest. Nekoda won the Grand Slam in Brasilia in October 2019 and took victories in the IJF World Tour in Düsseldorf and Zagreb. With her French club Red Star Champigny she won the Europa League in 2018.
She will compete again, next week at the European Open in Riccione (ITA).