Elliot Stewart announces retirement from judo

Paralympic silver medallist Elliot Stewart has confirmed his immediate retirement from judo.

Stewart won a silver medal at last summer’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games to add to the bronze medals he received at both the 2018 World Championships and 2019 European Championships.

Following in the footsteps of his dad Dennis, an Olympic judo bronze medallist at Seoul 1988, Elliot upset the odds to defeat world number one Oleksandr Nazarenko en route to reaching the Paralympic final in Tokyo, where he narrowly missed out on gold.

Announcing his retirement Stewart said: “I am leaving the sport in a really good place. I have had a great career and I am so proud to have been given the opportunity to represent my country and my family on the biggest stages the sport has to offer.

“I am walking away having had no major injuries and I am looking forward to starting the next chapter in my life.”

Now set to pursue a career in teaching, Stewart is looking forward to swapping the dojo for the classroom as he embarks on a new chapter in his life.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher, so when the opportunity arose for me to start my PGCE, I jumped at that. I am a living example of what sport can give to somebody, and I want to repay that as much as possible.”

Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB’s Chef de Mission at Tokyo 2020 said: “Elliot’s silver medal-winning performance in Tokyo was a highlight of the Games and a wonderful, memorable moment that I hope he will cherish forever.

“The weeks, months and years of hard work and commitment paid off at his first ever Paralympic Games and it is an achievement he should be incredibly proud of. I wish Elliot well for the future and have no doubt that his focus, determination and perpetually positive attitude will enable him to excel in whatever he chooses to do next.”