My name is Gary Hall, age 24 and living in Bristol. My aim is to raise £2000 to continue my dream and qualify for Rio 2016 Olympic Games!

I started judo at 4 years old and started winning competitions as soon as I entered them.  I was named West of England   ‘Player of the Year’  3 years running.

At 12 years I was old enough to fight for a place on the British squad, which I achieved, and stayed part of the junior GB squad for the next 8 years.  During this period I was National Champion 4 times.

I was selected for many top internationals including the Russian Cup, the Cadet Europeans and the Junior World championships.  I was funded by the Olympic Committee on a scheme called TASS – for talented athletes which was based at Bath University.

As a senior I am now self funding (I receive no funding from GB) and find it difficult to afford the foreign competitions/training camps that I need.  I am a family man, a proud dad to my daughter and soon to be married, like most people I am in full time employment.  I get up at 5.30am every morning to go to the gym before going to my office job. I train most evenings and a full day Wednesday at Bath University where I am a member of Team Bath and follow their full time intense programme.

After picking up a serious knee injury in 2012 I was out of action for some time, going through rehab and bringing myself back fighting fit, I returned in November 2013 and completed at a senior European Cup in Malaga where I took gold. This gave me a huge boost for my confidence!

In December 2013 I competed in the British Trials and have secured myself a place on the Senior British squad, again.

March 2014, I competed in my first world ranking event in Argentina called the Pan American Cup (Continental Open) where took Silver. This result led me to complete in my next world ranking event in Madrid where I won a bronze medal and gained my first ranking points for the 2016 Olympics!

July 2014, I competed for Team England in the Commonwealth Games where I won a bronze medal.

Since the commonwealths I have had some great experience competing in Croatia Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Slam which I won more valuable qualifying points towards Rio 2016!

I am currently ranked around 80 in the world where the top 22 qualify for Rio 2016. With each event costing between £400-£800, this £2000 will allow me to start 2015 on track to qualifying.

Thank you for your support and taking to time to read my page.