Four Olympics, One Big Throw: Ashley Mckenzie Brings Judo Magic to St Augustine's
A four-time Olympian rocks up, throws the head of department around the hall, and suddenly Year 7 can’t stop talking about judo. This was Friday 10th July, courtesy of ActiveWestminster Champion of the Future Athlete and Ambassador Ashley Mckenzie.
From pupil to Olympian and back again. Ashley Mckenzie brought judo home to St Augustine’s.
A medal collection that does the talking
And this isn’t just any judoka. Ashley’s record speaks for itself:
- 60kg category
- 4 x Olympian
- 2 x Commonwealth Games gold medallist
- 5 x British Open Champion
- 2 x bronze medallist, European Senior Championships
- Gold & Silver, European U23 Championships
Ashley isn’t some distant sporting superstar the kids only ever see on TV, either. He’s local, and he’s one of their own: Ashley actually attended St Augustine’s himself. Same corridors, same halls, same neighbourhood. That’s what made his visit land so hard: this wasn’t a celebrity dropping in for a photo op, it was a former pupil coming back to show them what’s possible.
An unfiltered, hands-on journey
Ashley didn’t just give the Year 7 students a polite chat and leave, he gave them his whole journey, unfiltered. The early starts, the setbacks, the grit it takes to go from a kid on a judo mat to a four-time Olympian. Honest, funny, no fluff and the room was hooked from minute one.
Then he had them up and moving. Grips, throws, real moves – Ashley walked the students through it all and got them trying it themselves. Cue plenty of laughter, a few “wait, how did you do that?!” moments, and a hall full of kids suddenly convinced they might have Olympic potential of their own. The highlight: a live demo alongside Deputy Head and former judoka Andy Whent, giving students a front-row look at elite technique in action — a hip throw hits different when it’s happening two metres away.
Nice full-circle touch too: Executive Headteacher Mr Moriarty actually taught Ashley back in the day. Part Olympic visit, part homecoming, part reunion.
Personable, candid, and thoroughly down to earth, Ashley went down an absolute treat – and left a hall full of future judokas in his wake.
Every champion starts somewhere
Ashley started right here, in the same streets and the same schools as these kids. That’s the whole point of Champions of the Future: local talent, backed to go all the way. Check out the Champions of the Future page to find out more about the programme and see if you or someone you know could be next.