Bryant won bronze at the European Championships in the +78kg category

Camberley judo fighter Karina Bryant has won the British Olympic Association Olympic Athlete of the Year award.

The 31-year-old has competed in three Olympic Games and won the 20th major medal of her career at the European Championships in April.

She told BBC Surrey: "It's probably one of the most prestigious things I've been awarded. I'm really over the moon.

"It wasn't just awarded within my own sport so I'm pretty proud. It'll makes others want to achieve the same thing."

Bryant believes the award is likely to spur on the next generation of judo fighters.

"In any sport, having athletes around you that have achieved some of the things that they want to gives them great confidence," she added.

"I'm sure a lot of them of them will take on board what I've achieved and push themselves to try and do the same."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version