Mossman’s rising judo star secures Hong Kong bronze with unwavering father support

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Jamie Jansen

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Mossman local Nanami Anderson (last right) claims bronze in judo competition in Hong Kong. Picture: Judo Australia

Mossman has a new hometown hero as 15-year-old judo sensation Nanami Anderson recently achieved an incredible milestone at the Asian Cup in Hong Kong.

Stepping onto the global stage for the first time as a member of the Australian Team, Nanami secured the bronze medal.

But her journey didn't stop in Hong Kong. With the bronze medal around her neck, she headed to the Asian Cup in Macau, where she secured an impressive fourth place finish. 

Her dedication and hard work have paid off as she now holds a world ranking of 41 in her age and weight category. 

This ranking is the result of her outstanding performances in international competitions, with the next challenge awaiting her at the Pan-America/Oceania cup in Canada next month.

Biggest support

Making her achievements even more remarkable, the journey to China marked her very first time travelling abroad.

While supported by her Australian coaches and teammates, Nanami's strongest pillar of encouragement was physically absent; her father, who also serves as her local coach.

Even though the distance separated them during the competitions overseas, he found ways to be by her side virtually. 

“He was able to cheer for me through the livestream between his work shifts, along with the rest of my family.

“My dad and I have a very close relationship. I am very grateful for all the hard work he puts into my judo and getting me to places. Without him I wouldn’t have been where I am today.”

Determination & dedication 

Even with her outstanding performance, Nanami will always aim for more.

“I was happy and proud to win the bronze medal in Hong Kong, but I'll keep dreaming of gold,” she shared.

“The bronze medal fight in Macau was really close, even though I lost. I've learned from my mistakes and hope to win next time.”

Nanami revealed that dealing with the nerves during a competition can be challenging.

“Getting onto the mat is the most nerve racking part, but once you get onto the mat all the nerves seem to go away,” she said.

“You don’t really take much notice of the crowd or your surroundings. Doing a hard warm up prior to the fights helps to calm me a bit.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming competition in Canada, Nanami shared her excitement for exploring the judo world on the other side of the globe and meeting new people.

"For the upcoming competition I will be training hard while also making sure to go out and have fun. If I focussed on judo and school all the time I could get burned out both mentally and physically. It’s important to stay positive and excited.”

Nanami finished 4th place at the Asian Cup in Macau. Picture: Judo Australia

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