Graeme Randall

Graeme Randall, MBE (born 14 March 1975) is a former world champion Scottish judoka. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics, and won gold medals in the 81 kg division at both the 1999 World Judo Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Biography Randall's judo career started at the early age of 12 and three years later he was awarded his black belt. Randall was educated at Lasswade High School, Midlothian. By the age of 19 he had become the Junior European Champion and won the Junior World bronze medal in the same year, while studying at the University of Edinburgh, where he completed a degree in Physical Education. In 1996, he was selected for Great Britain to compete at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing in the -78kg division, he lost his first round match and failed to progress any further. The following year in 1997, he finished fifth at the 1997 World Judo Championships. The following year in 1999 he won a world title after winning the gold medal in the 81 kg division at the 1999 World Judo Championships. He became Scotland’s first World Judo Champion. at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, where he competed in the 81 kg category and won the gold medal after defeating Majemite Omagbaluwaje of Nigeria, Tim Slyfield of New Zealand and Thomas Cousins of England.

Not long after the Games, he announced his retirement from the sport. Graeme was awarded an MBE in 2001 for his services to judo, and in recognition of his outstanding level of competitive performance, was awarded the prestigious honour of the sixth Dan. He is Scotland’s most successful judoka, he became one of the youngest players to be awarded the grade. He was the second male from Great Britain to hold a world title in judo. He was also seen in the STV series of Coached Off The Couch.

Achievements Year Tournament Place Weight class1997 World Judo Championships 5th Half middleweight (78 kg)1998 European Judo Championships 5th Half middleweight (81 kg)1999 European Judo Championships 3rd Half middleweight (81 kg)1999 World Judo Championships 1st Half middleweight (81 kg)2001 World Judo Championships 5th Half middleweight (81 kg)2002 Commonwealth Games 1st Half middleweight (81 kg)