There was a time when Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown did not even know if she wanted to continue judo.

When older sister Jenny was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, instinctively, Yeats-Brown wanted to step away from her sport to make the most of their remaining time together.

Jenny was not having it, though, insisting that Katie-Jemima should continue her Olympic dream.

That became reality at the Arena Champ-de-Mars in the women’s 70kg category on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old from Pembury came through her first fight with Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy from Madagascar before being edged out by Austria’s Michaela Polleres in the round of 16.

And while there was some disappointment at seeing her Olympic run come to an end, Yeats-Brown wanted to highlight the journey she has been on just to get to this point.

She said: “I was going for one more attack and she ended up catching me.

“It’s been a tough journey to get here. I’m proud to have got here after everything I’ve been through, but there was more in me.

“Two years ago, I was at rock bottom. My sister passed away. Part of me was going to hang the kit up, but part of me wanted to get to the Olympics.”

That is exactly what she did, with friends and family making the trip across the Channel to watch Yeats-Brown in action. They were part of a packed-out stadium, with judo being one of the most popular sports for French fans at these Games.

And Yeats-Brown was keen to drink that all in on her Olympic debut.

She added: “My friends and family were all in the crowd. I wanted to put on a bit of a show on for them.

“I love fighting in France. France is the ultimate judo show, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. I love fighting for the crowd on the big stage. I’m just gutted that I’ve finished now.”

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