BJA performance director Daniel Lascau thinks several members of Team GB can win judo medals in 2012.
New BJA performance director expects British medals at London
British Judo Association's new performance director Daniel Lascau is confident that several members of his squad can win medals at London 2012.
Lascau has been charged with turning around the fortunes of the elite squad after a disappointing World Championships in Paris led to both head coach Patrick Roux and performance director Margaret Hicks leaving the organisation.
Romania-born Lascau won gold at the 1991 World Championships and fought for Germany at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 before going on to become vice-president of the European Judo Union.
BJA chairman Densign White accepts it is something of a gamble to overhaul the coaching structure with less than year to the London Games but thinks Lascau can get the best out of the squad.
The likes of Euan Burton, a former world bronze medallist, former world silver medallist Karina Bryant, 2010 Under-23 European champion Ashley McKenzie and Colin Oates will be the main home hopes in London.
"From what I have seen, there is a positive moment. We now have eight months or so to develop our best performances for the Olympic medals," Lascau said.
"Our squad has fighters who can contest for a medal, and also there are those who may not be ready for this Olympics, but on a good day, they could also make the medal fights."
Lascau is confident things are moving in the right direction on the road towards success at London 2012.
Support
"The challenge for me is to make sure all that the coaches have all they need. My management is from bottom to the top, to support the technical staff, everybody who are responsible for the players," he added.
"I ask them all to do their best to deliver the performance for the players. At the end, the player will go onto the mat to present the best performance they can.
"My job is to make sure that the entire team gets the coach to put them in the best place they believe they can perform at the Olympics when they represent their country.
"Now, personal interests have to be forgotten, because it is all about the interests of British Judo."
With a five-strong team set to take part in the Tokyo Grand Slam and Qingdao Grand Prix later in December, this weekend's LOCOG Test Event at ExCeL will be used mostly as a logistical exercise.
The third and fifth days of next summer's Olympic schedule will be replicated, with some 100 athletes, 50 officials and 90 volunteers set to help ensure the competitions run smoothly.
Lascau said: "The elite players will have competition in Japan and Korea, so I am going to give the feeling to the next generation of having an Olympic competition.
"This weekend will be a good opportunity to test everything in the Olympic hall, for the organisers and the federations."
