He has the pedigree for a sporting champion, so it is hardly surprising that Byron McIntosh secured a top three placing in the Judo Federation of Australia’s national championships this month.
Byron, 14, who lives in Mt Riverview and attends Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School, took out bronze at his first Australian National Judo Championship in the senior boys under 66kg division, over the long weekend on the Gold Coast [June 10-12].
Byron was the only competitor from Kokoro Judo in Penrith where he is coached by former Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Jean-Claude Raphael.
Proud mother Melissa McIntosh said Byron started judo four years ago, and began training seriously about 12 months ago.
“He competed in a number of qualifying competitions for the state team and made the NSW State Squad at selection about six weeks ago,” his mum said.
“This was Byron's first Australian National Judo Championships. To get there, he trained formally four days a week (three after school and a Saturday) - two days with Kokoro and two days at Homebush with Judo NSW.”
Desire to do well could stem from his dad, Stuart McIntosh, who competed in two Olympics – Sydney and Athens – for Great Britain in whitewater slalom canoeing. Byron has also dabbled in canoeing and has watched his Dad train Australian champions. Byron said he might return to that sport at some stage.
“The Olympic Games has been my dream since I was two,” Byron said.
“I really like judo, it’s all about balance but you also have to use other’s people’s core balance against them. It’s very technical.”
Byron said it is a gentleman’s sport. “I felt sorry for the [fourth place getter] because I know how that feels. But in the end we are all friends. At the start we bow and at the end we bow and have a handshake.”