Absolute Performance, the Cardiff based gym design and installation business, announce a new partnership with multi-medal-winning and Team GB Olympian Nekoda Smythe-Davis.
The partnership will enable Absolute Performance to draw upon Nekoda’s immense experience as an elite athlete as they look to further refine their products and gym design process. Nekoda’s knowledge of elite performance and the importance of including strength and conditioning in a training program will provide a unique perspective. Her experience of injury recovery and rehabilitation, and her passion for supporting young people’s development through sport, which is highlighted through her work with The Mintridge Foundation, will also be invaluable to the fast-growing company.
Nekoda’s interest in Judo began at the age of 6, she has since become one of the sport’s most loved Judokas. Her rise to international success saw her crowned Commonwealth and British champion in 2014, going on to represent Great Britain at the Rio Olympics in 2016. During her career to date she has amassed an impressive haul of twenty-seven elite competition medals including battling to silver at the Baku World Championships in 2018.
Siân Buchanan, Owner and Director at Absolute Performance commented,
We’re delighted to be partnering with Nekoda, she mirrors all the values we aspire to. She is highly motivated to succeed and has immense strength and determination. She is refreshingly modest about her impressive achievements, especially her amazing capacity to balance motherhood whilst continuing to perform at the highest level, it makes her a fabulous role model for women and youngsters.
Nekoda returned to competitive action in autumn 2022 after a three year absence following a serious concussion injury. During her time away from the Tatami, the judo mat, she also gave birth to her first child, daughter Ryia. She added,
It’s great to be working with the team at Absolute Performance, they have such experience working with high-performance athletes. It will be great to play a part in the new products and new ideas coming along, but, I think I’ll learn as much from them as they will from me! I’m especially impressed with their experience in the education sector, we have a shared interest in working with youngsters and providing aspiring athletes with facilities that match their ambitions.
When asked about her plans for competing in 2023 Nekoda replied;
I’m really happy with how things are going since my return. During the pandemic it was difficult to train and, as I was recovering from injury, it was sometimes hard to find the motivation, but when I look back now and see how far I’ve come I feel really proud. Ryia is my inspiration, juggling competition and being a mum can be tough, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m aiming to be at Paris 2024, that’s my goal.
