Sydnee Andrews etched her name into the history books by becoming the first New Zealand woman to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo (read more on the historic win). Competing in the +78kg class, the 23-year-old Gisborne native dominated her final bout against Richelle Ania Soppi Mbella of Cameroon, claiming victory via an Ippon two and a half minutes into the match.
Historic Victory in Glasgow
The triumph ended a 36-year gold drought for New Zealand judo at the Games, tracing back to Brent Cooper’s title in Auckland in 1990. Andrews’ journey to the top of the podium in Glasgow was far from straightforward. As noted in regional reporting on her path to gold, she was a late inclusion in the New Zealand team after being forced to prove her fitness following an injury.
A Demanding Path Through the Bouts
Despite her late entry and pre-games injury concerns, Andrews swept through her weight category by winning all three of her bouts by Ippon. Seeded directly into the quarter-finals as the top seed, she dispatched Marie Loanne Durhone of Mauritius with more than two minutes remaining in the four-minute bout.
Her toughest test came in the semi-finals against Marthe Yokobed Gnacadja Avaro of Gabon, a frustrating encounter where her opponent played a passive defensive game. The tactical stalemate ended when Gnacadja Avaro conceded a third shido penalty with 54 seconds remaining, sealing Andrews’ place in the final. Andrews described that semifinal as brutal, noting She kicked the s**t out of my shin, but
.pain is a just a four letter word and I pushed through it
Uncertainty on the Mat and Pure Emotion
Even as she executed the decisive throw in the final against Mbella, a moment of confusion hung over the mat. Two minutes and 33 seconds into the bout, Andrews was left temporarily unsure if the refereeing panel had registered the score.
Once the score was officially confirmed, the reality of her historic achievement set in as she became New Zealand’s 10th gold medallist of the Games. She admitted the holding maneuver was driven purely by competitive survival instincts: Just the emotions and I was really holding her down because I wasn’t going to risk her getting out of it… it was unreal.
Global Ambitions Rooted in Gisborne
Andrews’ athletic progression took her from her hometown dojo to the Camberley Judo Club near London, building toward an ultimate Olympic mission that gained momentum when she captured a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Her progression was mirrored by Gisborne Judo Club head coach Jason King, who monitored her matches from New Zealand in the early hours of the morning and praised her tactical discipline on the mat.
The celebration following her medal ceremony carried a distinct cultural resonance. Alongside the raising of the New Zealand flag and receiving her a nice big shiny gold
medal, Andrews was honored with a poutangata haka performed by members of the Silver Ferns netball team, who had earlier defeated Jamaica in their own gold medal match.
Reflecting on her journey and the deep ties to her community, Andrews dedicated the win to her support network and the supporters back home. Gizzy Hard all the way … we may be small, but we are warriors and I want to make sure I can be a good role model for the younger kids,
she said, adding that her Commonwealth Games campaign marks another stepping stone rather than a final destination.
