Elvis Gordon

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]

Elvis Gordon
6th Dan
Personal information
Birth nameElvis Anthony Gordon
Nickname(s)The Cat[1]
National teamEngland
Born(1958-06-23)23 June 1958
Hanover, Jamaica
Died6 May 2011(2011-05-06) (aged 52)
Wolverhampton
ResidenceWolverhampton, West Midlands
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
1986 Edinburgh +95
1990 Auckland Open
1990 Auckland +95
Representing  United Kingdom
World Championships
1987 Essen Open
European Championships
1988 Pamplona Open
1985 Hamar Open
1992 Paris Open
World Cups/Continental Open
1989 World Masters Rüsselsheim +95
1989 Tournoi de Paris +95
1992 World Masters Munich +95
European Team Championships
1987 Paris Team
1990 Dubrovnik Team
1992 Leonding Team
International Tournaments
1981 Welsh Senior Open Cardiff +95
1985 British Masters Birmingham +95
1985 British Open London +95
1986 German Open Rüsselsheim +95
1987 Scottish Open Edinburgh +95
1988 Matsutaro Shoriki Cup Tokyo +95
1989 British Open London +95
1991 Scottish Open Edinburgh +95
1991 British Open London +95
1992 British Open London +95
1982 Dutch Open Kerkrade +95
1983 Dutch Open Kerkrade +95
1984 British Open London +95
1984 Belgian Open Gent +95
1983 Belgian Open Gent +95
1986 Tournoi de Paris +95
1987 Tournoi de Paris +95
1989 Sungkop Tournament Seoul +95
1990 Wolverhampton Judo Masters Open
1990 British Open London +95
1992 Belgian Open Championships Visé +95
1993 British Open Birmingham +95
1995 US Open Macon Georgia +95

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]

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][10] In 2010, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died in May 2011.[1][11] 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."[12]

See also

References
  1. "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. "Judo champ Elvis Gordon loses brave fight with cancer". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  11. "Judo champion Elvis Gordon is fighting cancer". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  12. "Gym named after judo legend Elvis Gordon". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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