Gemma Howell
Personal information
Born (1990-06-13) 13 June 1990
Stafford, England
OccupationJudoka
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Sport
SportJudo
Weight class‍–‍63 kg, ‍–‍70 kg
ClubWolverhampton Judo Club
Coached byBill Kelly
Retired11 December 2023[1]
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesR32 (2012, 2020)
World Champ.7th (2010)
European Champ.Gold (2022)
Commonwealth GamesSilver (2022)
Medal record
Women's judo
Representing  Great Britain
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Sofia ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tel Aviv ‍–‍70 kg
IJF Grand Slam
Silver medal – second place 2022 Tel Aviv ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Baku ‍–‍70 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Brasilia ‍–‍70 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Paris ‍–‍70 kg
IJF Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest ‍–‍70 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Zagreb ‍–‍70 kg
Silver medal – second place 2016 Tbilisi ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Baku ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Qingdao ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Zagreb ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Antalya ‍–‍70 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Cancún ‍–‍70 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tunis ‍–‍70 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Hohhot ‍–‍70 kg
European U23 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Zagreb ‍–‍57 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Sarajevo ‍–‍57 kg
World Juniors Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Bangkok ‍–‍57 kg
European Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Warsaw ‍–‍57 kg
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham ‍–‍63 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF1120
JudoInside.com36101
Updated on 12 December 2023.

Gemma Howell (born 13 June 1990) is a British retired[1] judoka from Stafford, England, who competed at the Olympic Games.[2][3][4]

Judo career

Howell came to prominence after winning the lightweight division at the British Judo Championships in 2006.[5] As well as successfully defending the title in 2007 and 2008, she won medals at the 2008 World Junior and European Junior Championships.[4] In 2010, she won a medal at the European U23 Championships before winning a fourth British title in 2011.[5]

In 2012, Howell was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She competed in the Women's 63 kg, but was defeated in the first round. The following year she won her fifth and last British Championship, this time at the heavier weight of half-middleweight. In 2014, Howell took three medals at the Heart of England Championships, the Zagreb Grand Prix and the European Open in Glasgow.[6] She also represented Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, competing in the women's 70 kg event.[7]

In May 2019, Howell was selected to compete at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus.[8] She won the silver medal in her event at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam Tel Aviv held in Tel Aviv, Israel.[9]

In 2022, Howell achieved her best success to date after winning the gold medal at the 2022 European Judo Championships in Sofia. Competing in the women's 63 kg she defeated Laura Fazliu in the final.[10] Following this major success she then went on to win a silver medal in the 63 kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

In December 2023, she announced her retirement after a very successful career that also included eleven surgeries for injuries.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gemma Howell announces her retirement". British Judo Association. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Gemma Howell". London 2012. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Gemma Howell - Judoka". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Gemma Howell profile". Judo Inside. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 "British Judo Championship Results 2003 to present". British Judo. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Gemma Howell - Judoka". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Judo Results Book" (PDF). 2020 Summer Olympics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  8. ↑ "Team GB squad announcement for the European Games". Team GB. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  9. ↑ Lloyd, Owen (18 February 2022). "Japanese judoka Horikawa and Tanaka victorious at Tel Aviv Grand Slam". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Gemma Howell". Team England. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Gemma Howell announces her retirement". British Judo. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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