Neil Adams

They sent me to the European Championships senior at 17. Wow. And that doesn't happen very often. And I fought, I pulled Nevzorov. So I fought Nevzorov and I had him really worried, you know, because he expected without a doubt to come out, throw this kid, you know, and junior. Yeah.

They sent me to the European Championships senior at 17. Wow. And that doesn't happen very often. And I fought, I pulled Nevzorov. So I fought Nevzorov and I had him really worried, you know, because he expected without a doubt to come out, throw this kid, you know, and junior. Yeah.

They sent me to the European Championships senior at 17. Wow. And that doesn't happen very often. And I fought, I pulled Nevzorov. So I fought Nevzorov and I had him really worried, you know, because he expected without a doubt to come out, throw this kid, you know, and junior. Yeah.

There's a picture of him in his judogi and his judogi is just cut. And he looks the business. And there's me in this baggy, skinny kid inside this baggy thing. And the thing was is that the more he tried and the harder he tried and the more he panicked. the further it went away from him. And so, of course, he got the decision at the end and deservedly, but I worried him.

There's a picture of him in his judogi and his judogi is just cut. And he looks the business. And there's me in this baggy, skinny kid inside this baggy thing. And the thing was is that the more he tried and the harder he tried and the more he panicked. the further it went away from him. And so, of course, he got the decision at the end and deservedly, but I worried him.

There's a picture of him in his judogi and his judogi is just cut. And he looks the business. And there's me in this baggy, skinny kid inside this baggy thing. And the thing was is that the more he tried and the harder he tried and the more he panicked. the further it went away from him. And so, of course, he got the decision at the end and deservedly, but I worried him.

And so for me, that was a massive step forward because a year later, I was starting to fill out. And two years later, I was competing for the Olympic title. So-

And so for me, that was a massive step forward because a year later, I was starting to fill out. And two years later, I was competing for the Olympic title. So-

And so for me, that was a massive step forward because a year later, I was starting to fill out. And two years later, I was competing for the Olympic title. So-

Just ripped them out of the ground. And I was saying to Nikki, my wife, and she said, what would you do now – It was different than the way you did then. I never had any pickups. That's not what we did. But you have a look at the young Ukrainians or the young Russians or the young Eastern Bloc Mongolians, and they're ripping people out the ground.

Just ripped them out of the ground. And I was saying to Nikki, my wife, and she said, what would you do now – It was different than the way you did then. I never had any pickups. That's not what we did. But you have a look at the young Ukrainians or the young Russians or the young Eastern Bloc Mongolians, and they're ripping people out the ground.

Just ripped them out of the ground. And I was saying to Nikki, my wife, and she said, what would you do now – It was different than the way you did then. I never had any pickups. That's not what we did. But you have a look at the young Ukrainians or the young Russians or the young Eastern Bloc Mongolians, and they're ripping people out the ground.

I mean, it's just different style of judo, and it just looks different. But now they're starting to do traditional style judo as well.

I mean, it's just different style of judo, and it just looks different. But now they're starting to do traditional style judo as well.

I mean, it's just different style of judo, and it just looks different. But now they're starting to do traditional style judo as well.

And of course, In 1990, we saw the introduction of all these Eastern Bloc countries. There were so many more. I mean, it was Soviet Union when I was competing. And then, of course, in 1990, everything changed. And then there were so many more of them out there, different countries, that their wrestling styles were introduced into judo. Put a jacket on them and let's get into judo.

And of course, In 1990, we saw the introduction of all these Eastern Bloc countries. There were so many more. I mean, it was Soviet Union when I was competing. And then, of course, in 1990, everything changed. And then there were so many more of them out there, different countries, that their wrestling styles were introduced into judo. Put a jacket on them and let's get into judo.

And of course, In 1990, we saw the introduction of all these Eastern Bloc countries. There were so many more. I mean, it was Soviet Union when I was competing. And then, of course, in 1990, everything changed. And then there were so many more of them out there, different countries, that their wrestling styles were introduced into judo. Put a jacket on them and let's get into judo.

And then you get, you know, the wrestlers and the leg picks and the double legs, single legs, double legs. And, you know, and it kind of, by 1995, you know, judo was bent over. And so it was the IOC that went to IJF, International Judo Federation. And they said, you got to change this or we're just going to have one wrestling style. It looks like wrestling with judo, with judo jackets on.

And then you get, you know, the wrestlers and the leg picks and the double legs, single legs, double legs. And, you know, and it kind of, by 1995, you know, judo was bent over. And so it was the IOC that went to IJF, International Judo Federation. And they said, you got to change this or we're just going to have one wrestling style. It looks like wrestling with judo, with judo jackets on.