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SPORTS PEOPLE
Judo competitor chops down obstacles
Sunday, January 20, 2008
There have been obstacles, you could say, between Rhonda Morrell-Pruitt and her dream of making the U.S. Olympic judo squad.
Oh, nothing major. Just two devastating knee injuries, a complete lack of sponsorship and the demise of her once-trusted coach.
Extras
Even with all that, Morrell-Pruitt intends to spend part of her summer in Beijing because the 27-year-old Huber Heights native and Colonel White High School graduate knows it's now or never.
"My last shot," she says.
She ranks third in the country in the 171-pound weight class despite having to pick up coaching wherever she can find it. Daniel Doyle, who had been her coach for about two years, pleaded guilty in federal court last November to sex crimes against a minor and faces up to 10 years in prison.
"I have a good support system, but it takes some getting used to, not having someone in that chair (during matches) telling you what to do," said Morrell-Pruitt, who already has qualified for the Las Vegas-based Olympic trials in June.
Three days a week, Morrell-Pruitt takes classes at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in biology on her way to becoming a chiropractor, she hopes.
Her main source of income — and funding — is what she earns working in a Wal-Mart photo lab.
In her words
"I've always wanted to be in the Olympics, but I've never had the opportunity until now to be able to do it.
"I tried in 2000 but didn't make the team. Then the past few years I've had injuries. Two knee surgeries, one on each knee. I blew them both out while training. I wasn't able to try to make the team in '04. It's been a long road.
"Judo was really a family sport. My parents started my twin brother at age 6 and I said, 'If he gets to do it, why can't I?'
"There were not very many girls in judo in the '80s, but I started practicing and never really stopped.
"The main challenge now is to keep competing (to maintain her ranking). A huge European circuit starts next month, and I have to go.
"I've written to Nike and other companies, but most of them say they are doing bigger things with their money than funding an athlete.
"I haven't heard from (Doyle) since about April. Of course I was surprised (by his legal trouble). I haven't talked to him. You have to focus on what you need to do."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or
smcclelland
@DaytonDailyNews.com.
