Back From Surgery, Judo Star Josh Says His Best is Yet to Come
Leading Hills judo star and two-time Olympian, Josh Katz, is aiming to return to competition mid next year after undergoing urgent knee surgery.
The multiple Australian, Oceania champion is putting behind his disappointment of losing in the first round of the Paris Games in July, as he aims for one more shot at Olympic glory in 2028.
The 26-year-old told the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News that he believes his best is still to come, as he continues rehabilitation after the recent surgery. The 2022 Commonwealth bronze medallist and dual European Open medallist displayed immense courage to qualify for the Paris Games despite suffering a crippling knee injury in January.
“Aside from a disappointing result, my Olympic experience in Paris was really incredible,” said Josh who lost to Italian Andrea Carlino of the men’s 60kg event.
“Without a doubt the hardest part was how quickly and abruptly it was over,” the William Clarke College alumnus said. “After such a long and emotional journey to arrive in Paris, for my competition to be over after match one on day one of the Games was really difficult to accept and process.
“It was a tough couple of weeks trying to adjust to the experience being over, and then turning my attention to having knee surgery that I had been putting on hold all year.”
Josh and his elder brother Nathan are the first Australian judo brothers to compete in the same Olympics when they competed in the 2016 Rio Games.
The duo run their own speaking and mentoring company, in addition to helping out at their family-run Budokan Judo Club in Castle Hill. Dad Rob, a highly-reputed Australian coach and Mum Kerrye, an Olympian herself, run the club.
“The injury was something that first occurred in January. We just had to do the best that we could with training and preparation so that I could still achieve the results I needed to qualify for Paris, and then arrive at the Games in the best shape possible to give myself the best chance,” Josh explained.
“It’s going to be a long recovery that will keep me away from competition until the second half of 2025, but I still have the same hunger as before,” said Josh, who has a double degree in exercise and sport science and sport management.
“I definitely think my best is still ahead of me, and I’m excited for when the time eventually comes to have one more run in 2028 (Los Angeles Olympics).”
On their speaking and mentoring programs, Josh said they are doing really well, and he plans to devote more time and energy to them so that he and Nathan can reach as many schools and corporate businesses as possible.
