After 23 years in judo, Amy Livesey (SKK; Pete Blood) has announced her retirement from the sport.
Posting on social media on Sunday evening, Livesey said: “It wasn’t easy making this decision, but I
know it is the right one for me.”
Livesey, who last competed at the Budapest World Championships in 2021, picked up her first
international medal at the Glasgow European Open in 2014. In 2015 she was crowned European U23
champion and later went on to represent GB Judo at 3 senior World Championships, placing 7th in
2017, and two senior European Championships.
Making her IJF World Tour debut in 2016, Livesey won bronze at the Budapest Grand Prix in only her
2nd event – her debut being the Paris Grand Slam! She went on to win a further two silver medals
and three bronze medals on the Grand Prix stage whilst collecting three Grand Slam bronze medals,
the last coming in Tashkent in 2021.
“I have been lucky enough to travel the world, meet some amazing people and grab some medals
along the way. Oh, and qualify for the Olympics!”
Livesey was one of four GB judoka that were vying for Team GB selection for the Tokyo Games in the
-63kg category. Livesey qualified in the automatic qualification places but unfortunately was ranked
behind fellow SKK club member and British Judo teammate, Lucy Renshall, who gained the sole –
63kg place by virtue of being the higher-ranked athlete.
Livesey went on to say: “I would like to thank Pete (Blood), Dennis (Stewart), Kate (Howey), Andrew
(Cruickshank), Jacob (Eyres), Ruth (Nichols) and British Judo for sticking with me in such hard times in
my career, and of course my family and friends.”
She signed off by saying: “Life is a crazy journey and I’m here for it!”
Livesey has been studying to become a nurse and will continue her studies following her retirement.
Former GB Judo Head Coach and now National Training Centre Coach, Kate Howey MBE said: “Amy
and I have had some great memories together and I am extremely proud of what she has achieved in
her career. I wish her all the best in her next chapter.”
