GB Howell hoping for big things at Judo World Championships

The Staffordshire native recently underwent minor surgery to remove cartilage from her knee and is working her way back into shape, with the Worlds just around the corner. The operation interrupted what has thus far been a successful year for Howell, but she is confident that a rapid return to form is possible. "This has been my best year of my judo career so far," she said. "I got my best medal at the European Championships, but this has been a bit a been a bit of a bump in my preparation for the Worlds because I can't actually do judo at the moment. "I'm just trying to take it a day at a time at the moment, making sure that everything that I'm able to do I'm doing as hard as I can. "This week I've destroyed my upper body in the gym, so obviously that will be beneficial when I come to fight because I'll be stronger." Despite battling for fitness, Howell has profited from the support group that an ambitious squad provides. In what is an individual sport equally demanding of mind and body, Howell nevertheless stressed the importance of a strong group dynamic. "I think the team is really strong right now, which keeps motivation high and everyone's really good at getting behind each other," she continued. "There's a couple of injuries at the moment, which means that we're pushing each other in the gym, getting the most out of each other. "The Worlds is another competition at the end of the day, I've just got to treat it like other competitions." And despite her current rehabilitation process, Howell is going into the championships with grand designs on adding to her 2018 medal collection. "My hope right now is that I can fight at the championships and that I'm ready and fit," she added. "Going there I'll be aiming to get a gold medal, that would be a dream come true, but I'd be super happy with any medal and a good performance." Sportsbeat 2018