Rachel Hawkes’ Commonwealth Games challenge looked over after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury in her first fight against New Zealand’s Moria De Villers.
The Co. Tyrone judoka, coached by sister Sarah, managed to get back to her feet after medical attention to beat Holly Devall from Wales and then, in her bronze medal match against Canada’s Charlie Thibault, took less than two minutes to produce ippon to end the contest and take her place on the podium.
The outpouring of emotion at the end from Hawkes and the packed SEC Arena in Glasgow said it all.
“I don’t think I’ve ever let a scream out of me like that in my life,. I suppose it was just all the hard work and all the effort put into it and going through all that blood, sweat and tears,” said a jubilant Hawkes.
“When you finally get that medal for Northern Ireland, which has been my goal for years now, sometimes it all just comes out in a big scream. It just means the world. I got injured during that (first fight) and obviously that can throw you off a little bit. The main priority was my health first so Sarah brought me to the doctor, got me checked over and they were then happy for me to continue as long as I was happy.
“I thought, I’m going to dig in, I can’t quit now, I have to go out and give it my all. I’m very, very glad I did because then I went on to win the repêchage and then won the bronze fight. I literally couldn’t be happier or more prouder to be from Northern Ireland and I just hope that I’ve done the country proud.”
The success for Hawkes was made all the sweeter as she had narrowly missed out on a medal in Birmingham four years ago.
“Birmingham was hard. I lost out in the bronze match and as I say sometimes losses like that can really devastate you and I probably could have stopped then, but I thought, no, I want this medal for Northern Ireland.
“I have to get up and keep going, just get through it and keep building and it was all worth it in the end. It makes it easier when your coach is your sister, it just spurs you on and gives you that little extra nudge because she’s been there from the very beginning when we were little kids starting out as white belts so it was all worth it.
“Maybe Birmingham wasn’t meant to be for me and I had to just go through that extra bit of fight for a few years to get where I am now.”
Hawkes is now looking forward to returning to Omagh to show off her medal.
“I hope the people back home heard it because it was one hell of a scream. I can’t wait to bring the medal back home,” said Hawkes.
“My family, my community and the whole of Omagh has backed me for years. I’ve always wanted to bring them back a Commonwealth medal because it’s the one time, it’s so special to represent Northern Ireland. It’s a real honour.
“To be able to bring that medal back home to Omagh, it’s going to be the best feeling, I can’t wait.”
There is no doubting that this success is the pinnacle of Hawkes’ career.
“I’ve fought at many, many competitions, but the Commonwealth is special. It is the one time you get to represent Northern Ireland and it’s a massive multi-sporting event,” she said.
“To even get selected is an honour, but to now be able to bring that medal home is an absolute privilege – and to do Northern Ireland proud and show the world what our wee country can do.”
Sarah was delighted to help her sister to glory.
“It’s amazing. We work well, don’t get me wrong, as sisters we have our moments, it means we just know each other inside out,” she said.
“I know the way she fights, I know how she needs to fight, what she needs to do. I know where she’s sat at, I know what she’s about and I nearly feel like I’m out on the mat with her.
“I nearly want to jump out on the mat with her . It just feels really special when it’s not only your player ,but it’s your actual sister as well. It means the world to celebrate this with her.”
