Nekoda Smythe-Davis

Gi is joined by Nekoda Smythe-Davis, a powerhouse in judo celebrated for her 2014 Commonwealth Games gold and World Championship medals in 2017 and 2018. However, a challenging chapter began for Nekoda when a severe concussion during training in 2019 disrupted her trajectory. This setback, magnified by the global pandemic, posed a threat to her 2020 Olympic dreams. Amidst this, a beacon of joy emerged in 2021 when Nekoda became a mother, welcoming her daughter Ryia. In this episode, Nekoda shares her decision on why she returned to the sport, her adaptation to motherhood alongside intense training, and her newfound vulnerability to criticism during competitions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.